Ruto inspects housing, market projects during Kajiado tour

Speaking during his development tour of Kajiado County, Ruto said investments in housing, markets and public infrastructure were intended to address accommodation needs while supporting employment and local businesses.

He particularly highlighted the need for decent accommodation for police officers and students, saying improved living conditions were important to their welfare.

“We shall not be distracted by naysayers and busybodies who do not have a plan. Our journey to building dignity for every Kenyan will remain on course as we want Kenyans, including our students and police officers, to live in dignity and our traders to do business in decent markets,” Ruto said.

Police and student housing

During the tour, Ruto inspected the Kajiado Town Police Housing Project, which is expected to provide 100 housing units for police officers, as well as a 580-bed student accommodation project at Maasai National Polytechnic.

The projects are part of a wider government programme targeting accommodation for members of the disciplined forces and students in institutions of higher learning.

According to government figures, the Affordable Housing Programme is supporting the construction of 23,690 institutional and staff housing units for members of the disciplined forces. A further 38,545 student housing units, providing 134,907 beds, are being developed in public technical and vocational institutions and universities.

Ruto also inspected the Kajiado Affordable Housing Project in Kajiado Central, which is 70 per cent complete. The project will comprise 196 housing units, commercial stalls and shops, a social hall, green spaces and other facilities.

More than 200 workers, mainly local youth and women, are currently engaged at the site.

In Loitoktok, Ruto inspected the KSh2.18 billion Boma Yangu Affordable Housing Project, which will deliver 751 homes across eight residential blocks.

The development will also include retail shops, an Early Childhood Development centre, green spaces and other community facilities. More than 400 workers are expected to be engaged, while KSh40 million worth of works has been set aside for the Loitoktok Jua Kali Association.

Markets for traders

Ruto also inspected ongoing market projects intended to improve trading facilities in Kajiado.

At Kimana, he visited the Kimana Modern Market, which is 58 per cent complete and is designed to accommodate 1,000 traders. The KSh327 million project includes smart stalls, a borehole, solar panels and a cold room.

More than KSh30 million worth of contracts has been reserved for the local Jua Kali sector.

In Namanga, the President inspected the Economic Stimulus Programme Market, which is 72 per cent complete. The facility is designed to accommodate 200 traders in the main market and another 100 in external spaces.

The project includes a borehole, solar power, a cold room and smart stalls. More than 100 local workers are currently engaged, while contracts worth more than KSh6 million have been set aside for the Namanga Township Jua Kali Association.

The government says the projects are intended to bring public investment closer to communities while creating opportunities for workers, artisans, traders and small businesses.

Nationally, the Affordable Housing Programme has 282,000 units under development, with the government targeting completion of 45,000 units by December 2026.

Government data indicates that the programme has so far supported 640,442 skilled and unskilled jobs, while contracts worth KSh61 billion have been reserved for Jua Kali artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises.