The national government has officially commissioned the construction of 600 housing units under the Talai Ainamoi Affordable Housing Project Phase 1 in Kericho Town.
President Dr. William Ruto who led a high-level government team during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Talai Ainamoi Affordable Housing Project on the 5-acre land said the construction of the AHP houses will go a long way in reducing slums in the country and save extra land for food production.
The Head of State further said already, the construction of 60,000 housing units is ongoing in several parts of the country adding that by the end of April 2024, the national government will be constructing over 100,000 housing units.
He said, in the next two months, the government will have employed 260,000 youth under the AHP programme countrywide, while 10,000 youth will be recruited to aid in the construction of the units in Kericho alone including carpenters, masonries, architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers, electricians, plumbers, among others.
“We want to build a total of 5000 housing units under phase 1, in Talai Majengo area, we are constructing 600 units and in Chelimo area we will add more units,” said Dr. Ruto
The President assured that his administration was on course as the constitution mandates the government to have a housing plan for its citizens.
“We have secured 600 acres of land while plans are underway to secure another 1000 acres to be used for expansion of Kericho town for it to rise to city status shortly” President Ruto Said
He also said the expansion of Kerenga Airstrip into an airport was underway as the multinational Tea Estates have agreed to donate land for the construction of a fully pledged airport.
This will go a long way in the expansion of Kericho as an agricultural hub in the region. Meanwhile, President Ruto also launched the ICT Jitume Digital Hub at the Belgut Technical Training Institute (TTI) where the national government has installed a hundred computers to be used by the students in the day and the residents in the evening to generate income through digital jobs.
The President said, every constituency in the country will have to put up a village digital Hub to enable the youth, women, and digital enthusiasts to generate income through transactions of businesses online, popularly known as JITUME DIGITAL HUBS, which is part of the Botton Up Economic Transformational Agenda (BETA).
“Once the facilities have been installed, the government will provide the computers and internet connectivity to facilitate the operations of the hubs” added Dr. Ruto
The President in his entourage launched the upgrading to the bitumen standard of the Kapsuser-Kipsolu Road, and Kapsuser-Sosiot Road to facilitate easy transportation of farm produce to markets without delay.
The President also launched the construction of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) for modern markets at the Chapseon trading center in Kericho County.
The construction of other markets which includes Kapkalek Market in Belgut Constituency and Kapkatet Market in Bureti Constituency, are underway.
The President was flanked by Deputy President Rigthi Gachagwa, Senate Majority Leader who is also the Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Cabinet Secretaries Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Eliud Owalo (ICT), Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads and Transport), Florence Bore (Labour) and Alice Wahome (Lands and Housing).
Others were Principal Secretaries Paul Rono (Agriculture), Charles Hinga (Housing), Julius Bitok (Immigration) Eng. John Tanui (ICT), Kericho county Governor Eric Mutai, Kericho Women Rep Beatrice Kemei, Former Energy CS Charles Keter, Members of Parliament Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi), Nelson Koech alias Sonko (Belgut), Kibet Komingoi (Bureti), Justus Kemei (Soin-Sigowet), Joseph Cherorot (Kipkelion East), Hillary Koskei (Kipkelion West) among others.
By Dominic Cheres
