The Kenyan government has announced plans to invest Ksh7.5 billion in building 3,000 housing units in Lamu County. This move is part of the Affordable Housing Programme and is aimed at meeting the anticipated demand for housing in the county as it prepares for the development of the Dangote East Africa Refinery. The refinery, which is expected to enter the construction stage soon, is a Ksh2.2 trillion project that will bring in a large influx of workers and visitors.
President William Ruto made the announcement at Mokowe, where he also issued title deeds to residents of the county. He stated that the government's investment in housing is intended to provide decent dwellings for those who will live and work in the area. The 3,000 housing units are in addition to ongoing affordable housing projects in the county, including modern markets and student hostels, which are valued at Ksh6 billion.
President Ruto urged the private sector to invest in complementary facilities and services, such as shops, hotels, and transport, that will arise from the refinery project. He also announced the formation of a standing committee, comprising officials from the National Government and Lamu County, to address concerns raised by residents regarding the project and ensure that their interests are taken care of.
The President assured residents of Lamu that they will be fully involved in all decisions regarding the development of the refinery project. He stated that the project will benefit the people of Lamu first and that the county, which has been overlooked for many years, will now be at the centre of Kenya's development. He also cautioned residents to be wary of political operatives who are sponsoring frivolous court cases aimed at frustrating the refinery project.
During his visit, President Ruto issued title deeds to residents of various community lands and settlement schemes in Lamu. He urged residents to be vigilant against conmen who may try to deceive them into paying fees for the title deeds. The President also announced that he would return to the region before the end of the year to issue an additional 200,000 title deeds.
President Ruto has been on a week-long tour of development projects in the Coast counties, and this week alone, he has given out 300,000 title deeds across six counties. He stated that there is no region in Kenya that is too small or insignificant to merit equitable development and attention from the National Government. The President also commended ranch owners who have signalled their readiness to sell 30,000 acres of land to the Government, paving the way for the settlement of squatters.
The President's tour of the region also included the laying of the foundation stone for the KSh85 million Garsen Community Sports Ground and the launch of the Tana River Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Project. He also visited other parts of the region, including Hola in Galole Constituency, where he met with residents and launched various development projects. The President was accompanied by various dignitaries, including Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome and Hassan Joho.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has announced a Ksh7.5 billion investment to build 3,000 housing units in Lamu County as part of the Affordable Housing Programme.
