The affordable housing project being spearheaded by President William Ruto has been a source of livelihood for many people in parts of the country since it was started by the Kenya Kwanza government.
In Kianyaga, Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County, the project has been in progress since it started and is expected to be completed within 11 months. The same programme is being implemented in Kerugoya Town in Kirinyaga Central.
The Gichugu programme that was launched by President William Ruto on August 20, 2022, in Kianyaga has 110 units and is expected to cost Sh270 million, all funded by the national government.
Mr. Gakuru Muchiri, Director of the Affordable Housing and Market Programme, who visited the site, said the programme is expected to be completed in 48 weeks with 110 units comprising 3-bedrooms, 2-bedrooms, and studio apartments.
He said the housing project is a game changer in Gichugu in terms of stimulating the area’s economy.
He noted, apart from the employment on the site, opportunities from indirect employment such as welding and plumbing, eatery joints, and those being given jobs in places where the contractor sources the construction materials.
“Workers include 95% who are local, with the remaining 5% being experts, including those from the Ministry of Housing. As the project progresses to the upper floors, more people will be given jobs.”
“We started in August, and within 8 weeks we had done 15% of all the work,” Muchiri said.
Muchiri also said they have agreed with the contractor to ensure at least a third of the workforce be given to female locals.
He has also called on residents to continue registering to get affordable houses using Boma Yangu.
Engineer Samuel Wambugu, the contractor, said the programme has been going on smoothly without any challenges since it started, and the locals have been cooperative. He added that initially he had more than 150 skilled and unskilled workers, and out of all of them, only six did not come from the area. The six are experts in specialised areas.
“We have been working overtime to meet the set timelines, and we shall complete it unless some external factors beyond our control emerge,” said Wambugu.
He added, “Our project can hold a certain number of people at a specific time. I hope the government will create another bigger project that will accommodate more people. Of the 145 people we have hired, there are more willing to work to sustain their lives.”
He noted that sourcing labour from the residents has created good relationships with neighbours; apart from creating employment, it is also a source of indirect income for food and other service providers. A third of the labourers’ workforce is female, allowing them to earn a living from the programme.
Jane Garoko, an unskilled labourer, has expressed her gratitude to President Ruto for initiating that project, saying since the programme started she found a place to get her daily bread to fend for her family and wishes for more programmes that will provide jobs to other Kenyans.
“We thank the president for this affordable housing project. In the past, we used to engage in drug abuse, but nowadays we are busy with work. Also, they don’t discriminate on gender; we have female workers,” said Garoko.
Charles Mwangi, a carpenter, has said that since he got a job from the programme, he has been busy throughout and has no time to get into drug abuse. He can now support his family and pay the school fees for his young family.
Rose Wanjiku said the pay from the project will help her settle school fee arrears next year, and she expressed hope the government will extend the project in the future.
By David Wandeto and Mutai Kipngetich
