Members of the County Assembly have commended progress in the ongoing construction of affordable housing units in Biafra estate, Kerugoya.
The project, which is 45 percent complete, will host houses whose prices will range from Kes. 1.7 million to Kes. 3.4 million. At the moment, the project has contributed to direct employment of 80 people with material suppliers and food vendors also adding to the numbers employed through the initiative.
Murinduko Ward MCA Hon. Charles Nyamu noted that urban dwellers will increase exponentially by the year 2030 hence the need to do proper urban planning. “By the year 2030, it is projected that 6 in 10 people around the world will be urban dwellers. The number will rise to 6.5 billion people by the year 2050 hence the need to meticulously plan our urban areas” Hon. Nyamu said.
Kerugoya Ward MCA Hon. Eric Muchina and his counterpart from Kanyekine Ward Hon. CPA Waziri Moses Maina, were however of a different opinion noting that cost of the housing units will not be affordable to common people hence the need to reduce prices.
“Mr. Speaker, the cost of the houses is outrageous to many residents who reside in Kerugoya. Those who were told to vacate to pave way for the affordable housing projects may in actual sense not afford the units” Hon. Muchina expressed.
The affordable housing initiative, jointly undertaken by the National and County governments, aims to provide 250,000 houses annually nationwide. Additionally, it is anticipated to generate employment opportunities for thousands of youth and marginalized communities across the Country.