Construction of houses using interlocking blocks has been billed the game changer to revolutionise the housing sector in the country.
The interlocking blocks, which are made using locally available materials, have been hailed as easy to make and a faster way in constructing cheap houses especially in rural areas.
The Murang’a County Director of Housing, Wilson Irungu underscored the new technology saying if it is fully embraced in the construction sector, it will reduce shortage of housing and greatly support government’s agenda on housing.
He spoke at Makomboki Vocational Training Centre in Kigumo Sub County on Tuesday where a section of youth involved in Kazi Mtaani programme are receiving training on how to make interlocking blocks.
Irungu observed that the blocks usually use soil which is locally available and small quantities of cement, which many can afford.
The housing department, he added, has the machine to make the blocks, saying residents need only liaise with his office to get facilitated with the equipment.
He observed that the youth drawn from the programme will continue being trained so that after the end of the training they can employ themselves by making blocks and selling to people who intend to use in construction of houses.
Irungu added that they will continue to train more young people on how to make the blocks, saying the technology will help many families get permanent houses.
A total 21 youth are being engaged to make blocks which will facilitate construction of public facilities within the area at the training centre.
Among the 21, eight of them are drawn from those recruited to work in the Kazi Mataani programme and the training is expected to equip them with skills which they can use in future to make a living.
The Manager of the Centre Wilfred Mutuma said the new technology of using interlocking blocks in construction of buildings has proved to be cheap and easy.
He said in a day, the young people are making more than 1,000 blocks which after treatment period will be used to construct a workshop at the centre, a house at neighbouring chief’s office and also in nearby medical facilities.
Area Assistant Chief, John Kariuki lauded the national government’s Kazi Mtaani programme, saying the programme has kept scores of young people busy.
He said since the programme started, young people especially those who were in colleges and universities have been making some money as they wait for reopening of learning institutions.
One of the young people, Belly Njuguna who is a second year student in a local university lauded the programme saying it has kept her busy and enabled her gain more skills.
“I have learnt a lot especially in making interlocking blocks. These skills will help me in future by helping people to come up with cheap blocks to build their houses,” she added.
By Bernard Munyao
