Locals reap big from housing infrastructure revamp

PS for State Department for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Locals neighbouring multi-billion shillings Affordable Housing Programmes (AHP) are set to benefit greatly from associated projects of renovating schools, markets and infrastructure, among other community-based initiatives.

The programmes listed for the community include expanding schools and building new ones, which have started in the majority of the constituencies following the outcome of the public participation forums.

Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga says in three years, the government has undertaken 240,000 affordable homes, hostels for 180,000 students, 30,000 institutional housing for our military, police and prison officers, and over 400 new markets for our traders are under construction across all 47 counties.

"In the coming years, Kenya will mark the largest public infrastructure transformation ever undertaken, not just in Kenya, but also in our region, estimated at Sh650 billion," said Hinga. He noted that more than 480,000 Kenyans are engaged in the enterprise opportunities across over 300 active sites - from artisans and technicians to engineers and architects, shaping a new national skyline In the Mt Kenya region.

The associated infrastructure programmes include the construction of classrooms, modern gates, the expansion of sewer lines, electricity connections, and an increase in water connections, as well as improvements to health centres and road linkages, among others.

Mt Kenya region Housing Director Albert Gakuru said in Murang'a, the project will facilitate the construction of 22 classrooms at Makuyu Boys High School, a dormitory, among other amenities, while Makeji Primary School will receive a facelift, among other programmes.

"In Nanyuki town, Inooro Secondary, Bungoma Primary School will benefit from the transformative programme, through the construction of additional classrooms,' he added. At Ol Kalau, the government is building a new primary school, a modern Kindergarten, a social hall, a commercial block, a guard house, power houses and garbage receptacles. In Gichuru, as phase two AHP project progresses, the government will improve Raimu Primary School and build a clubhouse

In Ol Kalau town, being the Nyandarua County Government headquarters with a dire need for infrastructure, several projects have been lined up to cater for the large number of urban dwellers expected to settle in the area. In Nyeri, the community identified a health centre, upgrading of a school and a community social hall.

In the Kigumo market in Murang'a, alongside the construction of 152 housing units, 20 classrooms will be built in the nearby Kigumo Primary School.