- President William Ruto attended the funeral of Johana Ng’eno in Narok County, where he announced a series of big promises
- He explained the plan for the establishment of the Maasai Mara University campus, infrastructure projects and financial support for families affected by the helicopter crash.
- Ruto also promised to help artists and more than 12,000 people evicted from Mau Forest, projects that the late MP was defending
President William Ruto joined thousands of mourners in Narok County today to pay his last respects to the late Member of Parliament for Emurua Dikirr Constituency, Johana Ng’eno.
Source: Facebook
The funeral service, held at Emurua Dikirr Primary School, was filled with emotional condolences and the government’s promise to continue the developmental legacy of the fallen MP.
Beyond mourning, the president used the platform to announce a series of transformation projects and support measures for the area and the families affected by the February 28 helicopter crash.
Below are the important promises and instructions given by President William Ruto:
1. The establishment of the Maasai Mara University Campus
Ruto he promised the full support of the national government in the establishment of the Maasai Mara University campus in Emurua Dikirr.
The late Member of Parliament was actively advocating the project to bring higher education closer to his constituents.
To start the process, the president promised to provide an initial KSh 20 million for the purchase of land and directed the Governor of Patrick Ole Ntutu to coordinate with Ministry of EducationKenya to ensure that the project continues as planned.
“I will give you KSh 20 million to buy land that will be enough for the university. Please arrange for the process to be completed within two or three weeks,” Ruto told Ntutu.
He also directed the Ministry of Housing, Kenya to provide KSh 750 million for the construction of hostels and other offices in the proposed institution.
The President emphasized that the university campus will be a permanent reminder of Ng’eno’s mission in empowering the youth and promoting academic excellence in the area.
2. Change of name to Shauri Moyo Housing Estate
Recognizing Ng’eno’s great role as the chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Housing, Town Planning and Public Works, the president ordered that the Shauri Moyo affordable housing estate in Nairobi be renamed Johana Ng’eno Housing Estate.
Ruto praised the late MP for being a pillar of the housing agenda, especially during a difficult period when the program faced legal obstacles and political opposition.
“You all know, this housing construction program has faced several challenges, including court cases and protests against the Housing Tax. Many people told me to remove the housing agenda. Ng’eno was not one of them,” Ruto said.
3. Help for the families of the victims of the helicopter crash
Speaking to the families of the four aides and staff who lost their lives along with the MP, Ruto announced a financial aid package of KSh 8 million, where each of the four families will receive KSh 2 million to support immediate needs.
The President went further to provide continued personal support by appointing a Head of Public Service to find him a job in the Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya is the widow of Wycliffe Rono, a protocol officer who left a young family.
The President also announced that the teaching job letter that was recently obtained by the late Robert Carlos Keter, who died before receiving his first salary, will be transferred to his sister who is also a teacher who studied the profession.
In addition, Ruto took personal responsibility to educate Amos Rotich’s son in university and also promised to address the housing challenges facing the family of photographer Nicholas Koskei.
4. An annual grant of KSh 20 million for local artists
In order to honor Ng’eno’s great love for the creative sector, the president announced that the government will provide a grant of KSh 20 million annually for a period of five years to support local artists.
The fund will be managed by the Ministry of Sports and the Arts, Kenya and aims to officially develop programs to empower artists that Ng’eno used to finance personally.
Ruto noted that the MP’s last public event in Endebess was to support a local artist.
He added that the government taking responsibility for the program is a sign of respect for Ng’eno’s commitment to ensure that talents in rural areas are recognized and generate income.
5. Completion of local infrastructure and markets
The President stressed that his government is committed to completing all the infrastructure projects that were going on in Emurua Dikirr to ensure that the area does not feel “like it has been left as an orphan” after losing its representative.
He ordered the immediate completion of 12 modern markets being built across Narok County and promised to speed up road projects that Ng’eno had prioritized in his development plan.
“We are building a modern market here with a cost of approximately KSh 70 million. The project was being implemented in collaboration with Ng’eno. We are building low-cost Mamboleo houses. These projects are possible because of the housing agenda,” said Ruto.
“In the whole of Narok, we are building 12 markets. Across the country, more than 500 markets are being built. The construction of more than 2,040 houses is ongoing across the country. We are changing our country because of the housing program. We are changing the landscape of our cities because of housing, and the chairman was Ng’eno,” he added.
6. Permanent residence for the evicted Mau Forest
The President also addressed the long-standing and sensitive issue of the people evicted from Mau Forest.
He admitted that the late Ng’eno used his political life to fight for the rights of those displaced from the forest.
Ruto promised that the government is in the final stages of a comprehensive plan to resettle them, which will be funded in the next budget, to ensure that families living in camps are given permanent land and title deeds.
He emphasized that this will not only be a political promise but it will be the end of the period of suffering that the MP wished to see resolved.
“Ng’eno was tirelessly following the issue of those evicted from Mau Forest. In 2023 we paid KSh 300,000 to each of the 2,000 people who were living in tents to help them find alternative housing. However, later I was told that despite helping those who were in tents, there are 12,000 other people who were also evicted. I want to assure the people of Narok that we will help these 12,000 people in the next budget so that they can to finally live a dignified life,” said Ruto.
7. Improving Silibwet–Dikirr–Lolgorian Road
The President also responded to the call of local leaders for the improvement of transport links by confirming the urgent priority of the Silibwet–Dikirr–Lolgorian Road.
He said the road was one of the most important projects for Ng’eno, who saw it as an important trade route for agricultural products in the area.
Ruto promised that the Ministry of Roads, Kenya will speed up the contractor to ensure that the road is built to asphalt level, to facilitate the transportation of produce from Emurua Dikirr farms to the markets Bomet County and other places.
8. Completion of Emurua Dikirr PAG Church
The President also touched on the personal project he started with the late member of parliament, to complete the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) church in Emurua Dikirr.
Acknowledging Ng’eno’s deep faith and his great contribution to the church, the president promised a personal donation of KSh 5 million to ensure the roof and finishing of the interior of the church is completed within the next three months.
He promised the believers that he will personally return to officially open the church once it is completed, fulfilling the agreement he made with Ng’eno during his last visit to the constituency.
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