Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has urged county governments to allocate funds for the national affordable housing project, emphasizing its role in President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four agenda. The initiative aims to construct 500,000 housing units by 2022, with Nakuru selected as the pilot county by the World Bank due to its existing infrastructure.
Kinyanjui, who chairs the Council of Governors' urban planning committee, stated that collaboration between national and county governments is critical for the project's success. "I urge my colleagues to set aside budgets to support this agenda," he said, noting Nakuru has already allocated Sh200 million for the initiative.
The housing development will occupy 50 acres along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway in Naivasha. Governor Kinyanjui also called on counties to provide essential services like sewerage, energy, and education infrastructure to attract private investment.
Despite existing projects such as the standard gauge railway and industrial parks, Nakuru faces a severe housing shortage. A 2016 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report revealed a 10,000-unit deficit, with only 2,000 available, creating an 8,000-unit gap.
