The site for the construction of student’s hostels at Borabu Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Nyamira County has officially been handed over to Sleek International, the contractor tasked with implementing the project.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Regional Lead (RL) from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, Nyaigoti Mogeni, said the Sh144 million project aims to address the acute shortage of student accommodation at the institution.
“Borabu TTI is a Centre of Excellence for Electronics and Electrical Installation courses in the entire Nyanza region, attracting students from across the country. Such students need decent and modern hostel facilities, a basic requirement to make their learning environment conducive and enjoyable,” Mogeni said.
He added that the government’s initiative to construct hostels in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions seeks to ensure that students from any part of Kenya can comfortably reside and study in their respective institutions.
Nyamira County Commissioner Erastus Mbui, who presided over the event, urged residents to support the project and take advantage of employment opportunities that will arise during the construction phase.
“This is a noble project that will transform Borabu TTI’s outlook and enhance its capacity to accommodate more students from different regions. Given its semi-urban setting, the institution has lacked standard accommodation infrastructure to meet the students’ needs. This project has therefore come at the right time,” said Mbui.
Eng Hazary Nyang’au, a quantity surveyor from U Design Consultants and the project consultant, promised to ensure strict supervision and quality control throughout the construction period.
“The contractor will be closely monitored to ensure quality delivery. The completed structure should serve many generations and stand as a beacon of excellence within the institution,” Nyang’au said.
He elaborated that the scope of works includes constructing a hostel block to house 340 students, two study rooms, two shops, one office, two mini-mart food stalls, a laundromat, and other amenities such as a guard house, garbage receptacles, and a powerhouse for backup generators.
External works will include parking areas, access roads, a sewer system, an underground water tank, a borehole, and a wastewater treatment plant — all within a 3,760 square meter ground space.
Paul Gisemba, representing the contractor Sleek International, assured that the company is ready to deliver the project in less than the stipulated 12 months, promising that most of the labour will be sourced locally.
“We are fully prepared to complete this project ahead of schedule. The local community will be the greatest beneficiary since most casual labourers and suppliers will be engaged from within the area,” Gisemba said.
Dr George Were, Principal of Borabu TTI, welcomed the development, saying the hostel project would transform the institution’s image and solve persistent accommodation challenges faced by students from distant areas.
“This project will give Borabu TTI a new, attractive look, improve enrolment, and create a conducive environment for learning. We are grateful to the government for prioritizing our institution as the first in Nyamira County to benefit from the hostel project under the Affordable Housing for Students Programme,” Dr. Were said.
Regional Lead Mogeni assured that all four constituencies in Nyamira County with technical institutions will benefit from similar hostel initiatives, with Borabu TTI being the pioneer project to hand over its site to a contractor.
By Deborah Bochere
