Mombasa: The Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, Charles Hinga, has commended the significant progress achieved in the completion of Nyali Affordable Housing Project in Mombasa County, terming the project one of the largest in the country. The project, located at VOK in Nyali Constituency, is currently 28 per cent complete and sits on 23 acres. It comprises five residential blocks rising to 15 floors, with a total of 1,932 housing units, supported by modern amenities.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mr Hinga, speaking to the press at VOK, said the housing component of the project is valued at Sh5.9 billion, with an additional Sh1.6 billion allocated for mixed-use facilities, including a market, mall, schools, and a hospital, bringing the total project investment to about Sh8 billion. 'We are building one of the biggest markets in the country here that will host 1,000 traders, a mall with 40 shops, including a supermarket, as well as ECD, primary, junior and senior secondary schools with seven laboratories. A modern football pitch with running tracks and a level four hospital with a 160-bed capacity are also part of this project,' he said.
Construction works are progressing steadily, with steel fixing on the fourth-floor slabs of Blocks A4 and A2, walling on the ground floors, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installation at the community centre. Employment creation remains a major outcome of the project, with more than 650 workers, mainly youth and women, engaged directly on site, while another 100 people benefit indirectly through supply chains and related services.
The project is also working with the Kisauni Jua Kali Association to supply materials such as steel doors, windows, and balustrades, ensuring local economic benefits. Workers at the site welcomed the project, appreciating its impact on their individual lives and those of their dependents.
Dorren Auma, a single mother of three employed at the site for seven months, said the initiative had enabled her to support her family needs continuously. 'I can provide shelter for my children, take them to school and feed them. I urge the government to continue with such projects to employ more youth,' she said.
Suleiman Mbarak, who works as a mechanic and driver at the project, also expressed gratitude. 'Before this, I struggled to find stable work. I have been here for eight months, and I hope similar projects will be implemented in other parts of the country,' he said.