The government’s housing agenda in Taita-Taveta County is taking shape after officials in the Voi Pool Housing project disclosed plans for expected part-handing over of 11-maisonettes poised to be completed by next month.
The 11-maisonettes, complete with their servant quarters, are part of several units under the Sh911 million mega-housing project expected to massively ease the accommodation challenges for workers in the region.
A Public Works official Mr Dola Duve said the 11-units were awaiting power and water connectivity before they were declared complete and ready for occupation.
He noted that the construction project had progressed well triggering optimism of part-handover of the completed units by the end of August.
“We have engaged utility firms to fix sewerage, power and water. Once that is done, the maisonettes will be ready for handing over,” he said.
The Voi Pool Housing Project started in December 2012. It was expected to take 104 weeks but delays in funding affected the progress. The completion date was extended several times to accommodate time and funding lapses.
The project is under the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development.
The contractor, M/s Mulji Devraj and Brothers, has received Sh267 million for the project out of the certified amount of Sh400 million.
The project comprises 11-maisonettes with servant quarters, 36-three-bedroomed flats and 60-two-bedroomed units will accommodate hundreds of workers. There is also a provision for a community hall.
Currently, the maisonettes are at 98.8 per cent completion. The status report of the three-bedroomed flats shows the works are at 71.3 per cent complete while the two-bedroom units are at eight per cent.
The completion of the maisonettes is being regarded as a remarkable milestone given the prolonged period the project has been ongoing. Officials in the region feel it is a major bolster towards realization of the housing agenda under the Big 4.
There is optimism that once the handing over is done, the project will have a consistent funding schedule that will see the remaining units completed before 2022.
By Wagema Mwangi
