By Ebi Kesiena
Kenyan President, William Ruto on Tuesday commissioned the construction of 220 housing units in Bahati, Nakuru.
The project is part of the plan to build 200 housing units in all constituencies across the country under the Affordable Housing Programme.
The 220 units will be constructed on a 10-acre piece of land at an estimated cost of Sh505 million and will include 60 studio units, 20 one-bedroom units, 120 two-bedroom units and 20 three-bedroom units.
According to local media, the project will include the improvement of roads to the site, power connection, as well as the expansion of the sewer line and water infrastructure in the already existing network.
Other social amenities include a social hall, kids playing area, commercial area and a tree nursery.
President Ruto while speaking on the scheme explained that it was in line with governments commitment towards providing decent and affordable housing for all Kenyans regardless of their social economic status.
State Department for Housing and Urban Development, PS Charles Hinga explained that the Affordable Housing programme isn’t a preserve of Nairobi County and its environs thus the decision to roll out the projects in constituencies.
So far the government has awarded 17 contracts in lot 1 for development and advertised a further 35 in lot 2.
However, the PS said the Bahati constituency housing programme will also provide employment opportunities for the youth, women in construction, and the Jua Kali Sector among other enterprises, with an estimated 500 youths engaged directly and another 300 indirectly.
The government also intends to build about 30,000 units for the police and another 214,000 housing units for university students.
