Affordable houses nearly done ahead of Ruto visit

Despite criticism, most of the affordable housing projects being constructed by the government in the Mt Kenya region are nearing completion and have injected billions into the local economies.

The projects are expected to be among those that the President will commission in his visit next week.

In Murang’a county, the Sh491.5 million Makenji affordable housing units are 50 per cent complete and will provide 220 units, including 60 three-bedroomed units, 100 two-bedroomed units and 60 studio apartments.

The government recently broke the ground for the Sh1.8 billion Makuyu affordable housing project, the biggest in the region so far and which will have 764 housing units.

In Kirinyaga County, the Sh271 million Kianyaga affordable housing project is also undergoing final touches ahead of the visit. The project has 110 units that include 40 three-bedroom, 52 two-bedroom and 18 studio apartments, is expected to spark major growth in the area, rejuvenating the economy of the sleepy Kianyaga town.

“We are currently at 96 per cent and are only remaining with small general works,” Victor Kimathi, the project’s clerk of works, told the Star.

Kimathi expressed confidence that most of the remaining work which includes painting will be done by next week.

In Nanyuki, Laikipia County, the housing project has 220 units and is 95 per cent complete, with sources indicating that applications for units far exceed the available houses.

On Tuesday, Governor Joshua Irungu inspected the project, which is 95 per cent complete, saying it will have a major economic impact on the busy town.

“This project will reduce the strain caused by shortages of houses in Nanyuki. Once we complete the Nanyuki market, the cash flow in this area will be highly boosted. These projects are a game changer,” he said.

Anthony Kimani, a land broker in the town, said the impact of the projects would be felt for decades despite the opposition they have been attracting from Kenyans.

He likened the projects to the houses that were constructed by the defunct local authorities in most towns and which provide good but cheap homes for thousands of Kenyans to date.

“Newcomers seeking to settle in Nanyuki town have been struggling to find good homes for their families. That pressure will ease once these housing units are complete,” he said, adding that he’s one of the many locals who have applied to own one.

Kimani however urged the government to streamline the process for acquiring the houses claiming that investors from major cities have been booking many units in various areas with the intention of selling them later at a profit.

In Nyeri county, the Sh877 million Blue-Valley affordable housing project in Rware will have 381 units while the Sh1.45 billion Ruring’u project will have 478 housing units.

Both are ongoing. In Kiambu, the Thika affordable housing project that has 600 units and Ruiru project with 1,050 units are also nearing completion.