Rental assessment of police houses kicks off in Makueni

State Department of Housing and Urban Development has started carrying out a rental assessment of houses in police camps and lines, alongside prisons in Makueni county to ascertain the market value.
County Director of Housing, Rodgers Wakhungu said the exercise had been occasioned by introduction of house allowance for both Kenya National Police Service and Kenya Prison Service and those occupying government houses will be required to pay rent.
Wakhungu said 247 houses have already been assessed in seven Sub-counties in countrywide exercise that is aimed at evaluating the rent to be paid by the officers.
‘‘We have already evaluated houses in Mukaa, Makueni, Kilungu, Kibwezi, Makindu, Makueni, Nzaui and we shall be proceeding to Mbooni East and West,” he said.
Speaking Wednesday to KNA in his office, the Director of Housing said most of the houses were habitable but noted that some were in deplorable condition and need renovation.
“Majority of the houses are good, but some are poor and renovation will be done progressively to make them habitable,” added Wakhungu.
He disclosed that the rental value assessment will be based on the size and the condition of the houses.
The assessment is expected to end in March across the country.
By Roselyne Kavoo