Lands CS Alice Wahome has urged Kenyans not to listen to naysayers on the government’s affordable housing project, saying the project has created a lot of job opportunities for Kenyans.
“The affordable housing project is improving living standards,” Wahome said.
Wahome spoke while inspecting progress of affordable housing projects in Machakos County on Wednesday.
The CS said the project’s procurement process had been transparent and the project had checked all government approval.
“To date, the government has constructed 140,000 housing units and aims to build 1 million units in the next five years, covering various categories,” Wahome said.
She told off former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for what she termed as dismissing government-funded projects in the country.
Wahome said Gachagua was part of the government during the planning and implementation of various development projects across the country before his ouster.
“Gachagua championed and launched these projects himself before he was ousted from the government,” Wahome said.
The PS told Gachagua to be candid and honest about the projects, challenging him to substantiate his claims that her ministry is involved in illegal contracts.
"Gachagua, you're promising bad leadership. You're now losing it," Wahome said.
The CS called on Gachagua to rethink his political strategy.
In Machakos, the government has completed 220 units.
CS Wahome dismissed claims that the rooms are small, asserting that they are intended for the target group living in deplorable conditions.
The release of the houses to the public is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, with 4,000 units expected to be handed over. This process will be launched by President William Ruto.
The housing units come in different typologies, including social, affordable, and market categories, with options for studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units.
The smallest units will range from Sh3,000 for low-income earners to Sh7,000 per month, depending on the type of house chosen.
The Lands CS addressed the contentious issue of land ownership in the Konza area, clarifying that it is not a land registration issue and adding that technical teams will determine the adjudication section based on the title deed.
Wahome stated that they will review what should remain in Makueni and what should be part of Machakos. She emphasized the need to move registries to different areas to devolve services, reducing the burden of traveling long distances for land matters.
