Kakamega town has registered an upsurge in demand for housing and related amenities with the introduction of the region’s first fully charted public university, write ROSELYNE OBALA and GRACE WEKESA
Kakamega town, mostly known by locals as ‘Khakhamega’ or ‘Eshieywe’, is fast growing in terms of population and business by the day.
With a population of over 80,000 people, it is strategically placed and has become a university town.
Kakamega town is the place to invest going by the stream of business prospects available with the presence of the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and other major players.
?Housing shortage within the town continues to be a thorn in the flesh for most residents and the situation is not any better for the management of MMUST.
Currently, the university has 10,000 students in total, including all their campuses. This number is likely to increase to 12,000 in the next academic year due to commence in August.
With the latest development, the town is overwhelmed by the increase in population.
Kakamega town and its environs is experiencing a big challenge, mainly a scarcity of decent housing, both residential and commercial. ?
The university, which began in 2002 with 2,002 students, then a constituent college of Moi University but now fully fledged, has spurred the growth of the town.
?The university has had a great impact in the area bringing with it high demand for housing units.
This in turn has exacted pressure on landlords to venture deeply into the rental house and lecture hall businesses, and consequently this has raised the living standards of the people in the area.
?New buildings are also being erected within the town at a higher rate, all within the central business district.
