The affordable housing programme has officially kicked off in Marsabit County, following the handing over of a two acre construction site to a contractor, where 220 housing units will be built
Presiding over the ceremony, Marsabit County commissioner (CC) Stanley Kamande, noted that the Sh670 million project is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The housing site is located in Marsabit town, Saku constituency and forms part the government flagship projects under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aimed at improving living standards for Kenyans.
The Regional Affordable Housing Project Coordinator for Marsabit and Mandera counties, Ahmed Ali, the Marsabit Deputy County Secretary Tari Doti and the county director of housing David Kori witnessed the handing over to Mankos Agency limited, amid appreciation from local residents.
The CC said the modern housing project will help address the shortage of residential housing in Marsabit town, besides creating job opportunities particularly to the youth.
Kamande urged the contractor to complete the project within the stipulated timeline and to prioritize the use of local labour and resources, so that residents could directly benefit from the project.
He reiterated the government commitment to improving the lives of Kenyans by offering an opportunity to own decent shelter in all parts of the country, adding that everything will be done to ensure that the contractor undertakes the work without any hindrance.
According to the regional coordinator, the affordable housing project is among many national government development initiatives currently underway in Marsabit County.
Ali said the other ongoing projects in the region include the construction of Sh360 million Sololo students hostels, a 340 bed capacity student hostels to serve Saku vocational training college at a cost of Sh154 million, a livestock market at Bubisa, North Horr constituency and a modern retail market in Moyale town.
He added that plans were underway to initiate three more modern housing projects in each of the county’s constituencies of Laisamis, North Horr and Moyale, even as the housing programme continued to gather momentum across the country.
“Every constituency will benefit from the affordable housing programme,” he assured, adding that the county government was keen to see the programme succeeding in the entire Marsabit.
The Deputy County Secretary said the devolved unit would work closely with the national government to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Tari pointed out that the project was expected to contribute to the county’s socio-economic growth in addition to easing the housing shortages and offering employment.
Meanwhile, Rashid Hassan Shabella, who is among families living in houses belonging to the national housing corporation on the two acre parcel of land, appealed to the government to implement the project in a fair and orderly manner.
On their part, the contractor’s side said they looked forward to completing the project on time and called for cooperation from stakeholders
Denis Korir, an engineer with Mankos Agencies limited said the company will focus on youths and other illegible workers when recruiting the workforce, noting that targeting the youth was also an affirmative action move.
Some of the residents who spoke to KNA, voiced their support for the project, acknowledging that it will benefit the community in various ways.
By Sebastian Miriti and Anthony Melly
