Kiambu, Kenya: The County Government of Kiambu is fast-tracking measures to boost the real estate sector in the region.

Governor William Kabogo said his government is streamlining issuance of permits to private developers and will pilot an e-permitting system to make the process faster and more transparent.

Mr Kabogo his adminstration is set to role out a campaign aimed at encouraging private developers to adopt sustainable and eco-friendly construction techniques available in other markets.

“With our growing population which currently stands at 1.6 million we need to have safe and healthy living environments as opposed to randomly built houses,” he said.

The governor said financial institutions are willing to finance developers to put up reasonably priced houses which can be accessible to a wider section of the population.

He said investors in the sector should take advantage of technological advances to put up structures that are enviromentally friendly.

“Now there are sustainable and viable solutions for the construction sector thanks to technological advances which we should tap into for our housing needs,” he said.

At the same time, the county government has announced plans to revive tanneries in the region which collapsed several years ago.

County Executive Committee Member in charge of  Agriculture Monicah Waiganjo said they will invest in the livestock sector to provide raw materials for leather industries that have been dorminant.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on skins and hides development and value addition, Dr Waiganjo said the leather industry can reduce poverty if fully exploited.

He said hides generate close to Sh9 billion locally, but can raise more revenue for the county.

“Until recently, the leather industry was not considered very profitable. What hurts the industry more is that Kenyans don’t buy local leather products,” she said, adding that Kenya should emulate Ethiopia where hides and skins products have a ready local market.