Makueni County Government has allocated 10 acres for the construction of 700 houses under the affordable housing scheme in Wote town, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has disclosed.
Mutula revealed this during the celebrations of Mashujaa Day at Matiliku Town in Nzaui Sub County on Sunday where he emphasised that through the venture the low- and middle-income families living in urban centres will have decent life and access quality houses in the county.
He said that his government was working closely with the State Department for Housing and Public Works to formalize and title various national housing schemes in Wote town.
“This year’s Mashujaa Day theme focuses on affordable housing; a key deliverable in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to ensure the low- and middle-income families especially in urban centres live a decent life by having access to quality housing,” said Mutula.
“We are in consultation with the national state department for Housing to ensure affordable housing is accompanied by the requisite investment in water, sewer system, roads and energy infrastructure,” he added.
On the youth, the Governor said that his government is ready to have open dialogue, information sharing and youth participation to address the needs and priorities that they require.
Mutula pointed out that they are going to have youth engagement forums where they will discuss and deliberate and prioritise projects for funding in the next budget cycle in the county.
“We will have engagement forums that will culminate in a county conference in December this year. This will provide opportunity for the young people to discuss and deliberate and prioritize projects for funding in the next cycle. I am very intentional in engaging and reaching out to the youth and providing opportunities to them,” he observed.
Additionally, Mutula said his believe of providing opportunities to the young people because they are productive and actively can participate in the economic activities across the county.
Speaking at the same event, Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Henry Wafula assured the residents that they are ready to offer security and supervise the national examinations that will kick off on October 22.
On the long holiday, he challenged parents to take care of their children during this festive period saying it was their responsibility to guide them to be good citizens hence avert them becoming wayward in the community.
However, the administrator urged the children to be disciplined and committed in doing the right things so that the long arm of the government may not find them on the wrong side of the law.
“If you fail in taking care of your children, they may become Wayward in the community and the long arm of the government will catch up with them,” warned Wafula after Reading the President’s Speech during Mashujaa Day on Sunday.
Speaking at the same forum, Makueni Member of Parliament (MP) Susan Kiamba called on the government to ensure the Emali-Ukia Road is tarmacked so as to improve transport on the road.
At the same time, Ms Kiamba urged the government to ensure Thwake Multi-Purpose Dam is completed in a bid to provide water to the local residents and also help in irrigating the land to improve food security in the county.
Also the MP called for the completion of Konza Techno City saying the local residents should be given first priority in employment opportunities in the area.
By Patrick Nyakundi
