Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has found himself at the center of a heated public debate after remarks on the government’s affordable housing programme.
Speaking during an interview on Mulembe FM, Sifuna questioned whether high-rise affordable housing projects are suitable for communities whose lifestyles differ from those typically associated with urban apartment living.
Using an analogy that quickly went viral, the senator said many Luhya families would not consider living in a place where they cannot keep their chickens, asking how a chicken would access a home on the 12th floor. He made the remarks while referring to a multi-storey affordable housing project in Busia County.
Sifuna argued that housing developments should take into account the cultural and economic realities of the people they are intended to serve. According to him, many households in Western Kenya traditionally live in compounds with open spaces that allow for activities such as small-scale poultry keeping, making apartment living less practical for some families.
He also questioned the suitability of high-rise buildings that reportedly lack elevators, saying such designs could pose challenges for elderly residents and others with limited mobility. The senator further suggested that greater investment in public services such as healthcare and education would have a more immediate impact on local communities.
The comments quickly triggered mixed reactions on social media and in political circles.
Critics accused Sifuna of reinforcing stereotypes about the Luhya community by suggesting that chicken rearing defines the lifestyle of an entire ethnic group. Others argued that his remarks appeared to dismiss modern housing solutions and painted the community as resistant to urban development.
However, supporters defended the senator, saying his comments were intended as a metaphor rather than a literal argument about poultry. They maintained that his message was about ensuring government housing projects are designed to meet the diverse needs of different communities instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
