State commissions new housing units for officers

By LUCAS NG’ASIKE

Turkana County: The Government has commissioned modern housing units for security personnel based at the volatile Turkana-Pokot border.

The eight housing units in Kainuk division in Turkana sub-county are part of efforts to improve the living conditions of police officers.

Turkana South Sub-County Police Commander Kipsang Changach said the houses will host officers from the the Anti-Stock Theft Unit as well as their administration and regular police counterparts.

“The  modern housing units are meant to ensure that security officers have better living condition to encourage them to perform their duties diligently,” Changach said.

The region has experienced   unrest for the past last few weeks following unresolved boundary dispute along the Turkana-Pokot border.

Kenya Police Service Director of  Planning and Development  Mark Opiyo and the Rift valley regional coordinator Joel Katili commissioned the housing unit in Kainuk police station.

According to the projects’ contractor James Njukia, the houses will host more than 300 security officers.

Security challenges

The Government has also put up similar houses in several other counties with security challenges.

Meanwhile, farmers in Trans Mara Sub-County have been advised gainst ditching food crops in favour of cash crops.

The call comes as an increasing number of  residents abandon cattle keeping and maize farming and embrace sugarcane growing following the recent launch of a second sugar factory in the area.

Deputy President William Ruto recently presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Indian-based Rajarambapu group of companies and Narok County government  for the construction of a Sh10 billion sugar factory in Lolgorian.