Five schools in the Molo constituency got a facelift after the national housing project offered to construct state-of-the-art facilities like classrooms, laboratories, and administration units as part of Community Social Responsibility (CSR), which has a primary focus on ensuring they complement the project.
Michinda primary, PCEA Elburgon senior school, Orthodox primary, new creation primary and Sokoro primary will see infrastructure in their schools upgraded to support and improve the performance in the institutions, hence stirring excellent performance.
Speaking during site handing at the school, government consultant architect Onyango Nicholas noted that the 2680 housing units worth 4.2 billion not only focus on housing projects but also social facilities around the project.
“The housing project not only focuses on housing units but also on upgrading surrounding social amenities like schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, as they play a vital role for those who consider buying the units once complete,” said Onyango.
He highlighted the need for the contractor to ensure they work within the stipulated time frame without compromising with the standard.
“We have directed the contractor to increase the manpower once the foundation works are done so as to deliver the project on time,” he added.
The sentiment was echoed by the contractor Oscar Wafula, noting that the project will see more than 1000 youths get employment as both jua kali and casual labourers to ensure he meets the July 2027 deadline for the project completion and handover.
“The 2680 housing units consist of 3 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms and 1 bedroom with shops and a kindergarten within the compound. Hence, as of March, we will double the workforce operating day and night with an approximate figure of 1000 labourers on site at any given time,” said Eng. Wafula.
The contractor added that under the proposal by area Member of Parliament Kimani Kuria, the company offered to construct classrooms, dormitories, laboratories and administration units for the identified school based on their needs as part of CSR.
“The structures we are doing to the 5 schools are purely CSR projects from us as the contractor to the constituency; we live in the community and we must always strive to improve it at all costs whenever given the chance,” he added.
Michinda school principal Mr Kamotho Simon lauded the initiative, noting that it will transform learning institutions, giving learners the opportunity to excel.
“On behalf of parents and principals from the other 4 schools, I want to applaud the government through the area MP Kuria Kimani for giving priority to the education sector, which is the backbone of any economic development,” said Mr. Kamotho.
Affordable housing CSR projects in Kenya are largely driven by public-private partnerships (PPPs) and corporate investments aimed at reducing the housing deficit and improving living standards. Key initiatives include the government’s Boma Yangu programme, which offers units from Sh640,000, and various corporate-backed projects.
The upgrade of different towns across the country will not only bring to an end rural-urban migration to major cities but also see to it that the economy thrives uniformly across the 290 constituencies, giving residents a feel of the government of the day.
By Absalom Namwalo
