The Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the North Rift region, particularly the Jua Kali operators, have benefited immensely through job opportunities from the Affordable Housing Programme thanks to the support by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) and partners in terms of training and linkages to available job opportunities in both public and private institutions.
In an interview with the Kenya News Agency, MSEA North Rift Regional Director CPA Alton Kogo affirmed that the Authority working together with the county government and partners has achieved a significant milestone in milestone in integrating Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly Jua Kali associations, into the Pioneer Affordable Housing Project (AHP).
“Following a strategic meeting with the main contractor, 15 Jua Kali associations were contracted to fabricate and supply key construction components, including metal windows, steel doors, and wooden doors, for over 2,100 housing units,” noted CPA Kogo.
“We expect a business value of approximately Sh 250 million in windows only for Pioneer Affordable Housing Project,” he added.
He further revealed that 7 Jua Kali associations working at the Kapsuswa Affordable Housing project-a 220-housing-unit development that is being constructed in, Kidiwa, Soy Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, have so far benefited from jobs in terms of fabrication and supply of windows, wood frames, doors among other products with estimated business value of approximately Sh 30 million.
“In Kidiwa Affordable Housing Site, we have managed to offer jobs to seven associations from this region; the Eldoret North Jua Kali Association, the Eldoret Recliner Association, the Olendu Elders Jua Kali Association, Eldoret Jua Kali North Rift, Kuinet Welders and Emgwen Association,” affirmed MSEA Regional Director.
CPA Kogo emphasized that the initiative aligns with the President’s directive to prioritize local enterprises in national development and includes quality assurance measures supported by a qualified quantity surveyor, reinforcing MSEA’s commitment to sustainable enterprise growth through public-private partnerships.
He affirmed the president’s passion about the affordable housing programme which is a key component of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) which aims to transform lives of Kenyans by providing access to decent housing while at the same time serving as a key driver for job creation in the construction sector, creating employment for hundreds of thousands of Kenyans especially young people in the Jua Kali industry.
The Regional Director underscored MSEA’s role to promote, develop, and regulate micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Kenya, acting as a key driver of economic growth and employment creation.
The organization’s duties include formulating and implementing policies and programs, providing business counseling and training, coordinating public and private sector initiatives, facilitating access to markets and finance, and promoting innovation and technology for MSEs.
With other ongoing AHPs in the region like the Eldoret Railway City AHP with 2166 units, the Kimumu AMS AHP with 226 units, CPA Kogo indicated that the agency is moving forward in collaboration with the county government and partners like the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa-Supporting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (IYBA-SEED), Kenya Industrial Estate (KIE), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) and others to ensure they formalize as many MSEs as possible so that they can benefit from these job opportunities.
He revealed that the agency has formalized over 100 associations in the last financial year 2024/2025 as it targets over 500 others in 2025/2026 across the region to benefit from the Affordable housing project and other services like access to finance, training and others.
Besides affordable housing job linkages, another remarkable achievement made by the MSEA in the region is the training and capacity building of over 11000 MSMEs in the year 2024/2025 in record management, financial management and technical skills in order to address significant skill gaps for business growth and enhance competitiveness and market access for MSMEs.
Jua Kali operators working in various housing projects in Uasin Gishu have lauded the support initiative by MSEA in accessing job opportunities in terms of fabrication and supply of crucial construction components to the housing units noting has helped transform their livelihoods.
“I was given a contract to make and supply windows to the Pioneer Housing project in Eldoret. I recently delivered 37 windows and planning to take more. The supply will earn me a good amount of money. This is really good because I will be able to support the needs of my family like paying schools fees and other needs,” noted Philip Kolil, the Chairman of Kipkaren Jua Kali Association, Uasin Gishu County.
“We make flash doors, door frames, all forms of woodworks and all fabrication-steel doors, windows, gates, chairs and much more at our workshop with over 20 artisans,” he added.
Elijah Kiambati one of the Jua Kali artisans working at Kidiwa Affordable Housing site expressed his appreciation to MSEA, and partners for supporting them to access jobs in the housing sector.
He added that the initiative would significantly contribute to improving their livelihoods and promoting sustainable economic empowerment of the informal sector through income from the fabrication and supply of key construction materials to the sites.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
