Plans are underway to construct a total of 320 Housing Units at Majengo Talai area in Kericho Town, under Phase One of the government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).
A team headed by Kericho County Commissioner (CC), Mr. Gilbert Kitiyo, who visited the site and held a public participation forum with the area residents, said that demarcation and bush clearing of the site will be carried out in the next few days, to pave way for the fencing of the site ahead of the presidential launching of the AHP project.
Mr. Kitiyo said demolition of the structures at the site will kick off in one week’s time, adding that affected families have been urged to cooperate with the government, by creating space to allow the program to take effect in earnest.
He said the residents, especially the youth and women will benefit from the manual labour in the construction of the houses.
The County Commissioner said that seven families at the Majengo Talai will be affected, and the government is appealing to them to find an alternative place to move to, before the construction starts to avoid undue inconveniences to them.
In reaction, a local resident Mama Ruth Chesang, appealed to the government to give them ample time to find a place to relocate to and remove their treasured items from the site, before the project is rolled out.
A youth leader, Mr. Kemboi Robinson, appealed to the government to consider putting up a social hall, where meetings can be held conveniently.
Kemboi had argued that one of the structures to be demolished, to pave way for the project was a social hall.
The CC in his response said a temporary social hall would be constructed to enable the youth to carry out their meetings and leisure activities.
The Government intends to construct a total of 10, 000 housing units in Kericho County as promised by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
By Dominic Cheres and Kibe Mburu
