The government will spend Sh1.3 billion to put up affordable housing units in Gatundu South, Kiambu County as it races against the clock to address the widening housing gap in the country. 

While it hopes to deliver between 200,000 to 250,000 affordable housing units annually, the government is rushing against time to fill the estimated gap of over two million units, a demand that continues to grow due to rapid population growth and urbanization. 

In Gatundu South, the government, according to area MP Gabriel Kagombe will demolish unproductive and old buildings to construct some 500 affordable housing units. 

Housing facilities 

The project which will include relocation of government offices that will be affected is expected to be completed in 18 months. Kagombe stated that the project comes at a time the region is experiencing a shortage of housing facilities for students, workers and residents. 

Speaking during the launch, he noted that academic institutions that have opened up in the area including Kenya Medical Training College, Mama Ngina University College and Gatundu Technical Training Institute have a population of more than 5000 students, a population that has increased demand for housing units. 

“Demand for housing units in Gatundu North continues to rise on a daily basis as private investors and government establish institutions and enterprises here. We believe that construction of 500 housing units on this land will lessen the demand that has been seeing workers, residents and students travel for long distances from their residences,” stated the MP. 

Kagombe quipped that the project will transform the town, which is home to the Country’s first and fourth Presidents-Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Uhuru Kenyatta-adding that it will go a long way in enhancing investments in the region. 

The lawmaker quipped that key amenities have been put in place to accelerate the town’s growth including a sewerage system, modern health facilities, sufficient water supply from Ng’enda, Kiganjo among other dams as well as an improved transport system. 

“Besides playing a pivotal role in transforming the town, this project will create job opportunities for more than 1,000 youths and the contractor is under instructions to source skilled and unskilled labour locally,” he told journalists during the launch. 

He reiterated that the Kenya Kwanza administration led by President William Ruto has been working round the clock towards implementation of the affordable housing project which has not only provided Kenyans with affordable abodes but has also created jobs and perked up the country’s economy.