Students at the Kitutu Masaba Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution are set to benefit from improved and affordable accommodation following the handover of a construction site for 340 hostels by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The affordable hostels project, estimated to cost Sh136 million, is part of the government’s wider initiative aimed at improving access to quality, secure and affordable accommodation for learners in public TVET institutions across the country.
Speaking during the site handover ceremony, Regional Lead for the Affordable Housing Programme Nyaigoti Mogeni said the project will significantly improve the learning environment for students admitted to the institution from different parts of the country.
Mogeni noted that many TVET institutions in Nyamira County are located in interior areas, far from major towns and shopping centres, forcing students to seek accommodation in neighbouring homesteads or poorly constructed single rooms that lack essential amenities.
“Most students struggle to access decent and affordable accommodation. Many are housed in nearby homesteads or shoddily built structures without critical amenities such as electricity, clean water or proper security,” he said.
He added that the affordable hostels initiative will relieve both students and parents of the burden of high accommodation costs while guaranteeing safe and conducive living conditions.
The Regional Lead further announced that the construction site had been officially handed over to Sytotech Contractors, who are expected to complete the project within twelve months.
“We expect the contractor to complete and hand over the project to the institution by December this year. Quality standards must be strictly adhered to as per the approved designs, under the supervision of U-Design Consultancy, to ensure value for public funds,” Mogeni emphasised.
Nyanza Regional Director of TVETs Dr. Osoro Nyangweta described the project as timely, saying it will address a long-standing challenge that has limited enrolment in TVET institutions within the region.
Dr. Nyangweta observed that despite having state-of-the-art laboratories and well-equipped workshops, many TVET institutions have struggled to attract students from other regions due to a lack of reliable accommodation.
“Students interested in technical courses often shy away when they discover that institutions cannot guarantee safe accommodation. This challenge has now been addressed through the President’s affordable hostels initiative for TVET institutions,” he said.
Kitutu Masaba TVET Principal James Nyakundi welcomed the development, describing the hostels as a game changer that will boost enrolment and expand access to technical training.
Nyakundi revealed that the institution is targeting to enrol at least 1,000 students in the next intake, a goal he believes is now achievable with the accommodation challenge resolved.
“Accommodation has been our biggest hindrance in meeting enrolment targets. Technical courses are in very high demand because the job market, both locally and globally, has an insatiable need for technical skills,” he said.
Sytotech Construction Limited representative Alfuse Ondicho assured stakeholders that construction works will commence immediately and be completed within the stipulated timelines.
Ondicho also committed to prioritising local residents for employment opportunities that will arise during the construction period, noting that the project will contribute to economic activity within the area.
Nyamira County Director for Housing and Urban Development Boaz Mireri confirmed that 12 interns under the Public Service Internship Programme have already been deployed at the site.
Mireri said the interns will assist in monitoring the progress of the project to ensure steady implementation until completion.
The affordable hostels project is expected to enhance student welfare, increase enrolment, and strengthen the capacity of TVET institutions to produce skilled manpower aligned with the country’s development agenda.
By Deborah Bochere
