President William Ruto is set to launch several development projects in the Nyanza region during his two days working tour which kicks off on Friday.
This being his second official visit to the region after he was elected President in August last year, Ruto is expected to tour Homa Bay County on Friday where he will launch the first phase of an affordable housing programme.
The president will also commission the Homa Bay Municipal Market and at the same time break ground for a Homa Bay Fish market.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed disclosed on Saturday that the President will also tour Kisumu Port and other infrastructure development projects in Kisumu before proceeding to Siaya County on Saturday where he is expected to launch the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Blue Economy Research hub.
Addressing the media at Kisumu State Lodge on Thursday, Mohammed said the projects were in line with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s drive to rejuvenate the economy from the bottom up.
The affordable housing project, he said will cover Oyugis, Kendu Bay and Mbita towns with 5, 000 units set to be constructed.
This, he said, was in line with the government’s agenda to bridge the housing deficit in the country which currently stands at two million units.
The project, which is being implemented alongside other programmes across the country, is expected to stimulate the economy of Homa Bay County and at the same time create jobs for the locals.
The President, he said, seeks to close the housing gap in the country through delivery of some 200, 000 housing units per year through a robust and active pipeline where 376 projects are lined up.
According to the State House Spokesman, the housing projects are at various stages of development with some 9,935 units currently underway.
He pointed out Pangani Affordable Housing project (1,562 units), Nakuru Bondeni (605 units), Buxton Point Mombasa (1,850 units), Bachelors Jevanjee Estate (1,800 units) and Moke Gardens (4, 118 units)
The Head of State, he said had also launched some 22, 490 units in Mukuru Met Site, Kibera Soweto B and Mavoko Affordable Housing in Machakos County.
The success of the projects, he said, depended largely on cooperation from the county governments, disclosing that 39 counties have already allocated land for the projects.
By Chris Mahandara
