Hundreds of Uasin Gishu residents turned up at the County Town Hall in a well anticipated Public Participation to give their views on Affordable Housing Bill 2023, which was presented by the joint parliamentary Committee on Housing and Urban Development, Finance and Planning.

Uasin Gishu Governor H.E Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim, EGH while leading the residents in his submissions said that the President’s intention to see Kenya rise into the world’s top-notch on ensuring that its citizens get homes that are decent and affordable was a show of good plans for his people and has demonstrated clear confidence in his leadership as the president.

“This is a dream come true, that so many Kenyans are witnessing for the first time in history a president is giving everyone a chance to own a home within their own cities; a chance that has been well received in Uasin Gishu. This has not only created major employment opportunities for our youth but also has given a chance for our young graduates from TVETS to afford a livelihood within the city as they are well enumerated at the sites of work,” noted H.E Dr. Bii.

Deputy Governor Eng. John Barorot said that the Affordable Housing project is currently being implemented at Kidiwa and Pioneer and will soon be launched at Saroyot.

“We are looking at getting our city to grow vertically so that we protect the agricultural land and remain the Country’s food basket. We support the President’s vision fully as a County,” said the Deputy Governor.

The Chair parliamentary Committee Hon. Kimani Kuria, led other elected leaders in the discussions.

The County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development Dr. Janeth Kosgei, reiterated that the Governor’s call on the importance of the Affordable Housing programme to future generations was of essence and hence the Department of Housing was well prepared for the tasks assigned under the programme.

“We support the programme and ask that the National Government ensure that a percentage of the units be allocated to the County Government so that it earns its revenue from the units,” noted Dr. Kosgey.

Representatives from the 6 sub-counties, the business community, the chamber of commerce, religious leaders, civil society groups, PWDS, transporters, universities, and technical groups presented their views with the majority giving 100% support to the Affordable Housing program to be rolled out in Uasin Gishu.