Residents hail cheap housing project

Kiambu residents have welcomed government plans to put up affordable housing units in Karibaribi area of Thika.

The project — which adds to the 975 units being put up near Thika Stadium — will be undertaken on a prime piece of land registered under Wabeni Technical Institute.

The land has been a target for land grabbers who have on several occasions attempted to acquire it for private development. Residents who have thwarted attempts to grab the land yesterday welcomed plans to develop it.

Led by Patrick Kimani and Wambui Mwaura, they hailed the project saying it will change the face of the area.

“We are ready to accommodate the project which we believe is an eye opener and the beginning of other infrastructural development in our village. The land would have ended up in the hands of private developers were it not for our adamant stand,” said Kimani.

The residents at the same time called on the government to simultaneously revive Wabeni Technical College to not only ease access to tertiary education for their children but also boost the economy of the village.

Speaking during a public participation forum, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a said that the project will be gazetted soon adding that it will commence early next year.

She revealed that two more similar projects have been gazetted at Heshima and Bustani areas in the constituency which she noted will go along way in alleviating joblessness.

“This project will rope in more developments in the village including upgrading of Wabeni Technical college, construction of a modern market, upgrading of Karibaribi police post and putting up of a modern health facility,” said the MP