By M, KNA
Construction of the 220-unit Kakamega Affordable Housing Project is complete, with the units now ready for occupation.
The government has spent Sh472 million to deliver the project, launched on October 3, 2023 at Milimani Estate, Kakamega town.
The units mark the completion of phase 1 of the Affordable Housing Project in Kakamega County.
More than 158 residents have paid deposits and are awaiting commissioning and handing over so as to move in.
President William Ruto is expected to commission and hand over the units to their respective owners at the end of December or in early January 2026.
The houses are arranged in nine blocks consisting of 60 studio units (bedsitters), 20 one-bedroom units, 100 two-bedroom units, and 40 three-bedroom units.
Over 300 casual workers have benefited from the project, earning daily wages during its construction.
Jua Kali Artisans earned over Sh30 million for supplying and installing steel windows and doors, while timber suppliers earned Sh42 million.
Speaking during the inspection of the project, Director of Communication, Executive Office of the President, Joshua Arap Sang, said another Sh7.5 million was paid to those who supplied poles.
Suppliers of hardware materials like cement among others were paid over Sh162 million, as Sang said that the suppliers and labourers were locally contracted thereby boosting the economy of the area.
Neema Kevin Eshiteshe, a resident of Navakholo was one of the beneficiaries of the project who teamed up with two other youths to supply food to workers at the construction site.
He says that before the project, he lived in a rental house, but earnings from supplying food to workers at the construction site enabled him to buy land and build a house for his family.
With the end of Phase One, the government has commenced Phase Two to construct 2,010 affordable housing units on the outskirts of Kakamega town.
According to the clerks of works, Hebron Kibet, from the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Phase Two units will consist of mini malls and shops, turning the area into a mini-city.
Housing units in the Affordable Housing Programme are classified into three categories with the tiers tied to income bands and different price categories.
The Social Tire is for the low income earners who earn less than Sh20,000, Affordable Housing Tier for Middle income earners whose income range between Sh20,000 to 149,000 while the Market Rate Affordable Housing Tier are for the Affordable Middle class earners who earn more than Sh149,000.
According to the Boma Yangu Website, all the Kakamega Affordable Housing 3-bedroom units under the Affordable Tire, priced at Sh3 million cash or Sh21,680 through the Tenant Purchase Scheme (TPS) have been sold out.
Also, all One-bedroom units under Affordable Tire and two-bedroom units under Social Tire have been sold out.