Yusuf Masibo

The county government of Bungoma  has begun construction of affordable housing units to address an acute shortage of housing in the region. 

Another 84 old homes previously owned by the defunct Bungoma Municipal Council are already undergoing renovation. 

The project aims at addressing the perennial housing problem in different parts of the county, especially among poor residents. 

The County Executive Committee member in charge of Land, Housing and Urban planning Bramuel Murgor says:  

“We have already built four houses and we are going to build quality habitable permanent units for the poor in every ward,” said Murgor.

Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati’s government has set aside 10 acres of land in the town for the same project that will reflect in all urban areas within the county.

Game changer

Wangamati said his administration had prioritised urban development because towns were engines of growth. 

“Towns within the county serve as administrative and security provision centres, as well as social and cultural delivery points,” he noted.

According to Murgor, there is an urgent need to address the mushrooming of informal settlements as they affect planning. “The Bungoma county housing project will be a game-changer,” he said.

In addition to solid waste management systems, identified towns will also benefit from the establishment of bus parks and fire-fighting equipment before 2027.

At the same time, the county director for housing, Christine Simiyu described the housing project as a noble concept that would spur economic growth. 

“With rural-urban migration on the rise, demand for houses will continue to rise,” she noted.

The programme aims to assist the county government to establish and strengthen urban institutions to deliver improved infrastructure and services for residents with the support of the World Bank. The homes will benefit middle-level income earners, while social housing in every ward are for the low income earners. 

“The social scheme houses are a continuous project initiated by the governor to benefit the low-income earners who cannot even afford quality but affordable housing,” she said. 

However, Bungoma town businessman Ramin Shah says the town lacks a proper housing scheme, forcing most investors to commute from other counties. 

“The only decent estate here is that of former Nzoia Sugar Company workers constructed under their pension scheme, but the homes are all fully occupied,” he said. 

Bungoma county has 1,670,570 people according to the 2019 census report released recently. There has been increased movement of goods and people from Bungoma’s rural areas to its urban centres, putting  the shopping centres and their facilities under pressure due to  overuse and congestion.

The CEC said that after the release of the census report, more trading centres within Bungoma qualify to become towns and municipalities based on population thresholds. Plans to upgrade the towns to municipalities and improvement of infrastructure is part of Wangamati’s strategy to prepare Bungoma to attain a city status in the near future.

Seed money

“Bungoma is preparing for city status based on population and infrastructural development, which includes the Sh1.3 billion, 6.5km dual carriageway from Kanduyi to Musikoma in the town and the upgrading of Chwele and Webuye town municipalities,” Murgor added.

The county government recently received Sh1 billion seed money from the UK government to improve and develop infrastructure within the established municipalities. 

The money will also be used to decongest Bungoma town’s Central Business District.

The grant could be increased to Sh5 billion once the county handles the seed money prudently.  

The Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) grant follows a winning proposal to improve Bungoma’s urban infrastructure to attract investments.

Murgor said land grabbing and construction of illegal buildings were the main challenges facing development of housing scheme in the county. 

However, the county has invested in a Geographical Information System Laboratory in a bid to control rampant development of illegal infrastructures.

“By end of this year, people will access maps in Bungoma instead of going all the way to Kakamega 60kms away,” he said.

Construction of new roads and a dual carriage way will open the way for proper drainage systems in Bungoma and Kimilili towns. “Proper drainage system has been a nightmare in the two towns, but thanks to the World Bank, funding is available to enable us construct roads and open up the drainage system’’ said Murgor.