The Kirinyaga County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee(CICMC) has embarked on an overview and review of current status of various ongoing projects in the area.
The committee, chaired by the County Commissioner Hussein Allasow and comprised of all heads of departments at the county level, will be highlighting challenges and proposing possible solutions to ensure timely completion of road projects under Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and other ongoing projects in housing, irrigation, water, health and Education sectors.
Consequently, the team has visited the affordable housing project in Gichugu, Kirinyaga East sub-county which is at 85% completion, a flagship project of Kenya Kwanza administration and witnessed significant progress.
Speaking at the construction site, the County Commissioner said the government’s goal of providing affordable and decent houses has been realized in Kirinyaga in addition to creation of job opportunities, a program that was launched by the President William Ruto in August 2023 comprising 110 units: 3-bedroom, 2-bedroom and studio rooms.
“We have made progress in the national government’s affordable housing project. In Kirinyaga County, we have two ongoing projects. One in Kianyaga which is 85% complete and the National Housing Corporation project in Kerugoya standing at 10 percent completion. The projects have not only created jobs, but also benefitted the locals who supply raw materials,” said Allasow.
He challenged the resident to access Bomayangu platform at the webpage www.bomayangu.go.ke and start applying for the units as early as possible as all citizens above 18 years are eligible to get a house of their choice.
Francis Wambugu, the project contractor, said the affordable housing program has succeeded as evidenced in the work done, saying the program had also aided the 300 workers to improve their skills.
Wambugu further expressed optimism that the second phase 2 of the project would expand opportunities while alleviating poverty within the area.
He said he expects to handover the project by January 2025, subject to prevailing weather conditions, especially the ongoing rain, which has delayed painting works.
“We have worked well from the initial stages of the project. I am proud of having over 260 people daily, the government’s Bottom- Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) starts in affordable housing. We have a second phase coming up, which is twice as big as the first phase and will expand opportunities. We intend to finish project latest January 2025. Weather has been a major challenge especially in the painting stage,” he said.
Meanwhile, the county coordination committee will be accessing other projects on a monthly basis to ensure prompt delivery of quality projects that meet the set standards.
By Mutai Kipngetich
