Omanga Explains Why She Declined Ruto’s Nairobi Rivers Commission Job Offer

Former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga has explained why she rejected a government job offered under President William Ruto’s administration.

Speaking on Wednesday during a local radio interview, Omanga said she turned down the position because it went against her personal principles and could have led to actions that would negatively affect ordinary Kenyans.

She said she was offered a role at the Nairobi Rivers Commission but carefully reviewed its mandate before deciding not to accept it.

According to her, the commission’s work was closely linked to ongoing demolitions in Nairobi, including the removal of informal settlements and business structures.

Omanga said she could not support a role that she felt would contribute to the suffering of low-income residents.

She questioned the fairness of such operations, arguing that development projects should not harm vulnerable citizens.

Criticism of the Affordable Housing Programme

Omanga, who is currently planning to contest for the Nairobi Woman Representative seat under the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), also criticised the government’s Affordable Housing Programme.

She claimed that the programme is not truly affordable, as many of the houses are being sold at commercial prices despite being marketed as low-cost housing.

She also raised concerns that some residents are displaced through demolitions while new housing projects are later introduced on the same land.

Omanga further questioned the source and use of funds collected from workers through housing deductions, asking where the money is directed if the final houses remain expensive.

Her remarks have added to the ongoing public debate about transparency and fairness in the housing programme, one of President Ruto’s key development projects.

Omanga’s Rift with Ruto

This is not the first time Omanga has publicly disagreed with the government. She has previously accused President Ruto of failing to fulfil promises made to women during the 2022 election campaign.

Her comments come shortly after she left the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and joined the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which is associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

She also claimed that a women’s charter signed before the election promised equal representation of women in government, free sanitary towels for schoolgirls, and improved maternal support services.

Omanga said many of these promises have not been fulfilled, arguing that this has disappointed many women who expected real change after the elections.

She further criticised the removal of programmes such as Linda Mama, saying it had negatively affected women who relied on free maternity healthcare services.

According to her, many of the promises made during the campaign period were not implemented, something she believes has led to growing public dissatisfaction.