Kenol Town’s transformation into a municipality, coupled with its strategic position as a gateway to the wider Mt. Kenya region is driving urban expansion and creating employment opportunities for skilled workers.
The town’s changing landscape, marked by the construction of high-rise buildings, commercial premises and residential apartments, has increased demand for skilled tradesmen, including welders and precast concrete workers.
Real estate growth is also reflected in rising property prices. A quick survey with a land selling company reveals that a 50-by-100-foot plot in Kagaa that was selling at about Sh800,000 a few years ago is now fetching over Sh2 million, illustrating the changing value of land in the area.
The expanding construction sector has provided opportunities for local enterprises to grow their businesses and employ more workers.
Joel Mandela, a welding business owner, said ongoing construction projects had increased demand for his services, enabling him to expand his workforce to nine employees.
Mandela, who relocated from Kisumu to Kenol two years ago, said he started his business with one worker before rising demand prompted him to recruit additional employees.
“I started with one worker but right now I have seven workers so that we can meet the ever-rising demand for welding services,” he notes adding that, “I have also trained my employees to operate specialized machinery and produce different metal designs thus equipping them with practical skills for the industry such that beyond employment they can also create employment for others in the future.”
Mandela said, in addition to serving individual customers, his business secured contracts to manufacture doors, windows and grills for residential and commercial buildings.
He said doors sell from Sh7,000, depending on the specifications and type of metal used, adding that he hopes to open more branches in Kenol and other parts of the country if business continues to grow.
“On a good week, we are able to make up to 30 doors and weld gates; before this boom a week would pass without a single opportunity to make some money,” he revealed.
James Muigai, one of the employees, said the job had enabled him to meet his household needs.
“Kenol growing has been very favorable because the business has been good. I can pay rent and also buy food in the house,” he said.
Elsewhere in Kenol, Kamau Kamande, who runs a precast concrete business, said increased demand had prompted him to expand his workforce from seven to twelve employees over the five years he had operated the enterprise.
He said the growing construction activity had increased demand for precast concrete products, requiring additional workers to facilitate the loading and unloading of materials and serve customers promptly.
“I’m happy that my business has created employment for local youths, enabling them to support their families and I feel fulfilled by having employed these people. These men have families they need to take care of and livelihoods to sustain,” he said.
Despite the growth, Kamande cited rising fuel prices, which had increased transportation costs and pushed up the cost of raw materials such as ballast, metal and cement.
Kamande urged young people to embrace skilled trades and entrepreneurship, saying such ventures could provide livelihoods while creating employment for others.
By Joseph Loiren and David Francis
