Laikipia: A widow from Laikipia has been awarded a new home as a tribute to the late 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who passed away last month. The housing unit was inaugurated on Monday in Naibor by Habitat for Humanity Kenya, an organization for which Carter served as a patron.
According to Kenya News Agency, the beneficiary, Rebbeca Ekale, a mother of seven, expressed her gratitude, stating that she had faced numerous challenges with her previous home. “I am happy with what Habitat for Humanity is doing for us here in Laikipia. When they came to assess my house it was leaking during rainy days. I constructed another muddy house and it had collapsed,” Ekale shared.
The construction of the new house, which is expected to be completed within a week, is being carried out by a dedicated Global Volunteer Team from Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity, USA, in collaboration with their Kenyan partners. Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu highlighted that the initiative embodied the true spirit of Carter, who initiated the idea of providing everyone with a home.
Governor Irungu emphasized that more than 30 percent of the residents in Laikipia lack permanent homes, and this effort aims to address the housing gap while improving local lives. He noted that constructing dignified houses would resolve many issues related to inadequate housing and stimulate development in the area.
The governor also mentioned that the construction of social houses aligns with the Bottom Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to ensure Kenyans have decent housing. He added that proper housing would help tackle respiratory diseases linked to poor living conditions and reduce human-wildlife conflicts in the region.
Habitat for Humanity Kenya director Margaret Mengo stated that their focus is on building homes for the most vulnerable groups, including widows, single mothers, and persons with disabilities. Mengo reported that over 100 houses had been constructed in Laikipia and called for partnerships to address the housing deficit in the country.
Harriet Chigai, a gender advisor in the office of the president, reiterated the need to support widows, who face numerous challenges after losing their spouses. She affirmed the government’s commitment to building affordable and dignified homes to ensure Kenyans live in a clean environment, noting that empowering women would contribute to societal development.