Changamwe: Residents of Changamwe have unanimously welcomed the Affordable Housing Programme and ancillary projects in a 20-acre plot allocated from the Kenya Petroleum Company land.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a public participation forum held in Airport Ward, Anthony Ng'ang'a from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the government plans to construct several facilities, including an Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) center, as well as primary and secondary schools.
'A modern market and a level four hospital will also be built. The housing units will use a prepaid gas reticulation system. This project offers tremendous benefits,' said Ng'ang'a, noting that it will not only provide decent housing but also create employment opportunities for the local community.
Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi urged residents to actively monitor the project's implementation to ensure it adheres to the agreed plans. The State Department of Housing was lauded for initiating transformative projects in the constituency that will, in the long run, improve the residents' livelihoods.
The MP disclosed that the department recently issued a title deed in Chaani and has initiated a project under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project, phase two, in Kalahari, Mathare, and Kwarasi, covering an overall acreage of 10.82 hectares. The crucial initiative will ensure a comprehensive improvement of infrastructure within the settlement. It involves upgrading roads, implementing stormwater drainage systems, and installing high-mast lights, all with the primary goal of significantly enhancing living conditions, mobility, and safety for the residents of Chaani.
'Six high-mast lights will be installed to boost security in our villages. Schools, markets, and playgrounds will also be developed,' the MP added. Ericah Chebet from the Kenya Airports Authority emphasised the importance of adhering to aviation regulations, given the project's proximity to the Moi International Airport.
'Before construction begins, the project's designs must be reviewed by the Managing Directors of the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority,' Chebet said. 'This will ensure compliance with height restrictions. In the event of an aviation accident, it's not just passengers who are at risk; residents on the ground could be affected as well,' she added.
Sub-County Police Commander Jamleck Ngaruya advocated for the establishment of a police station within the development to ensure the safety of its future residents.