President William Ruto paid a visit to the flood-affected Mathare slum on Monday, May 6, 2024, and vowed critical help to locals dealing with the consequences of the disastrous floods. The Head of State, dressed in a plain white T-shirt, blue trousers, and black gumboots, walked through Mathare’s perilous passageways with his staff and security officials.

During his visit, President Ruto announced, “We have 40,000 households who were evacuated because of their safety, every household will receive Ksh10,000 to look for alternative housing waiting for government intervention.” This financial aid aims to provide immediate relief to those displaced by the floods.

Furthermore, the President assured the community of plans to allocate Ksh1 billion for school repairs and hinted at the possibility of reopening schools in the near future. He also unveiled ambitious plans to construct 20,000 affordable houses in Mathare, Kiamaiko, and Kibra, stating, “Before Friday, we are going to advertise for the construction of 20,000 housing units… so that we can begin the process of making these slum dwellers homeowners in Kenya.”

President Ruto’s visit signifies a commitment to addressing the pressing needs of the Mathare residents and providing them with essential support during this challenging time.