The government, through the Affordable Housing Programme has awarded tenders for construction of hostels that would accommodate 1020 students in three technical institutions in Vihiga county at a cost of about Sh445 million.
This is aimed at addressing student accommodation shortages by providing secure in-campus housing.
The County Director of Housing Teresia Ooko, said the government will construct the hostels at Kaimosi Agricultural Training College, Sabatia and Ebukanga Technical and Vocational Colleges in Tiriki East, Sabatia and Emuhaya sub counties respectively. Each of the hostels, she added will accommodate 340 students.
Consequently, Ooko said a contract of Sh153,656,910 had been awarded to Pelmark Investment Limited for the construction of a hostel at Kaimosi Agricultural Training College, as well as a further Sh146,127,999 and Sh145,107,999 to Restah Company Limited for the construction of similar hostels at Sabatia and Ebukanga Technical and Vocational Colleges.
The Director said that these hostels would enable the beneficiary institutions to raise their Appropriations in Aid, while at the same time address the biting challenge of accommodation by offering the students a secure and affordable accommodation within their respective compounds.
A second year ICT student at Sabatia Technical and Vocational College, Osteane Magune commended the government’s initiative saying it would go a long way in solving the accommodation challenge.
He said the college which has a fast-growing student population does not have a single hostel at the moment, and all the students are currently being forced to commute from outside.
Magune regretted that some students are housed in very insecure environments, while others report for classes late due to long distances they have to endure.
By Maureen Imbayi
