By Allan Mahelo | March 6, 2026
President William Ruto has directed the Ministry of Housing to rename the Shauri Moyo Housing Estate in Nairobi to Johana Ng’eno Housing Estate in honour of the late Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno, who died in a helicopter crash last week.
The President made the announcement on Friday during the burial ceremony for the late MP and four other victims at Emurua Dikirr Primary School in Narok County.
According to the Head of State, the decision followed recommendations from members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, which had been chaired by the late legislator.
“I have directed the Ministry of Housing to rename Shauri Moyo Housing Estate in Nairobi to Johana Ng’eno Housing Estate in recognition of the leadership and dedication he demonstrated while serving as the chairperson of the housing committee,” President Ruto said.
The President praised Ng’eno’s leadership and commitment to the government’s Affordable Housing Programme, noting that the initiative faced intense opposition and several legal challenges during its early stages.
“The housing programme has been one of the most challenging initiatives. It faced protests, public criticism and several court cases, and it required firm leadership to keep it on course,” he said.
Ruto also revealed that while some leaders had advised him to abandon the controversial housing levy, Ng’eno remained steadfast in supporting the government’s plan.
“Many people advised me to drop the housing levy, but Johana Ng’eno was not among them. He stood firmly behind the programme because he believed in its potential to transform our country,” he added.
The President noted that the housing initiative is already delivering tangible benefits across the country, including development projects connected to the programme.
“Today, in Emurua Dikirr, we are constructing a modern market worth nearly Sh70 million as part of the broader development linked to the housing programme. This is one of the projects we had planned together with Ng’eno,” he said.
Ruto further said he intends to recognise members of the parliamentary housing committee in his memoirs for their support in advancing the housing agenda during a difficult period.
“When I write my memoirs, I will dedicate an entire chapter to the members of the housing committee for the role they played in helping to implement this programme despite the criticism it faced,” he said.
The President added that the estate set to be renamed is one of the largest housing developments in Nairobi, consisting of about 4,500 housing units.
He also pledged government support for the establishment of a campus of Maasai Mara University in Emurua Dikirr, a project that had been proposed by the late MP.
President Ruto directed Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu to identify suitable land for the project, promising financial support from the national government.
He further instructed Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga to facilitate government funding for the construction of the university and student hostels.
“I will personally return here to launch the construction of the university so that students from this region and across Kenya can have access to higher education opportunities,” President Ruto said, adding that the government will allocate approximately Sh750 million to kick-start the project.
