Ongata rongai: Residents from Ongata Rongai, Kajiado North, have joined others across the country and are set to benefit in the government's Affordable Housing Program. The Gataka area located near the Oloolaiser water plant within Ongata Rongai is part of this government's initiative and is offering various unit types, including studios and one, two, and three-bedroom apartments through the Boma Yangu project.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Regional Director of Nairobi Metropolitan, Don Kagicha, announced at a stakeholders meeting that the Sh 5.2 billion project will feature over 2,000 units. Before construction begins, the project will support local schools with social amenities and build a community social hall.
Kagicha emphasized the government's commitment to infrastructure development in schools within Affordable Housing areas. In Gataka, a playground for Ongata Rongai Primary will be constructed, along with a recreational facility featuring football, volleyball, and basketball pitches and a social club.
The project will be supported by infrastructure near the Oloolaiser Water Plant, including plans to drill three boreholes and establish a sewer system. The housing development will also include a health center, an ECDE school, a powerhouse, and a swimming pool, spanning 15 blocks with a completion timeline of two years.
Kagicha urged local residents, especially the youth, to apply for jobs within the project. The contractor, Wachira Kimani, assured that labor would be sourced locally unless unavailable and highlighted the project's potential to employ around 3,000 people, boosting the local economy.
The community meeting, chaired by Kajiado North Deputy County Commissioner Metrine Wafula, saw participants, including clergy and community leaders, express gratitude for the government's efforts while calling for further expansion of schools in the area.
Several Affordable Housing projects are underway in various wards in Kajiado County, offering unit types from social housing to market-rate options for different income levels. President William Ruto has been actively promoting the program as part of his agenda to provide decent and Affordable Housing, address the housing deficit, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.