Officials from the affordable housing programme, together with the contractor today engaged the Garissa town Jua Kali artisans to sensitize them on opportunities available to them in the project.
Led by John Karanja regional head affordable housing programme Coast and North Eastern region the officials took the artisans through the entire project component pointing out areas they can seize their opportunities.
The national government through the affordable housing programme will construct 408 housing units of various categories valued at over shs 1.1 billion at the former government housing department compound in Garissa town.
The project that started on June 17th will be completed in the next one and half years.
Addressing the press after a long day meeting held at the Garissa Farmers Training College, Karanja said that the tour of Garissa County is to sensitize the Jua Kali artisans, small scale traders, ‘Mama Mboga’ and the general public on the entire project starting from its conception to when it be completed.
The officials will also educate the public on how they can own the housing units once they are complete.
“We are here today to sensitize the traders, Jua Kali artisans, Mama mboga and the general public on the affordable programme and how they can benefit from the project in order to uplift their economic standards,” Karanja said.
“We shall educate them on how they can acquire the housing units once they are completed,” he added.
So far, the Jua Kali artisans have been tasked with supplying fabricated doors and windows for the project.
However, they have to register as groups with Jua Kali association and acquire necessary certification from the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) among other government entities.
Garissa county Jua Kali association chairman Osman Mohamed thanked the national government and elected leaders for recognizing their role in the affordable housing project.
Osman singled out Garissa Township MP Major Rtd Mohamed Dekow for taking the initiative to educate Jua Kali artisans on how to go about registering their members so that they can be eligible to be sub-contracted to supply goods and services for the project.
Bura East deputy county commissioner Thomas Bett who was present said that the government was committed to actualizing the affordable housing programme as part of its bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
Bett said the huge investment in the housing project will have a substantial economic impact on Garissa town and neighbouring sub-counties.
He called on Garissa residents to make enquiries on Government project earmarked for the county so that they can benefit from them.
The deputy county commissioner said all locally available supplies ranging from sand, ballast, doors, windows skilled and unskilled labour will be locally sourced by the contractor.
“I would like to urge residents of Garissa to work closely and support the contractor to ensure seamless implementation of the project,” Bett said.
“Your cooperation and support for the project will see the project completed not only on time but also as per design,” he added.
The vice president of the Parklane construction company Nislikant Ashok assured Garissa residents that the completion of the project on time or even earlier will depend on their cooperation with his team.
“I have a committed team who are ready to deliver the project on time or even earlier. This will however depend on the cooperation of the residents and sub-contracted supplies of required goods and services,” Ashok said.
By Jacob Songok
