This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
Government Sets Aside Sh3 Billion for Affordable Housing Programme ¶
On December 2, 2019, the government announced that it had set aside Sh3 billion for the informal sector to produce doors and windows for the affordable housing programme.
The programme aims to construct 500,000 units of houses, which are planned for completion by 2022. The government has identified 69 items that must be supplied by the Jua Kali sector, including doors and windows.
A multi-agency committee led by the National Construction Authority will provide 30 percent advance payment to successful bidders from the Jua Kali sector in capital facilitation to enable them start on the orders.
The government has also launched the Jua Kali Production Manual, which contains specifications, measurements, and standards for the production of the 69 items. The manual will guide artisans in producing high-quality items that meet the required standards.
Industrialisation PS, Dr Francis Owino, said that the government would inject more resources into upskilling artisans for them to have the requisite capacity in making the items required by the housing project.
The Jua Kali sector is a big contributor to employment in Kenya, creating 17.8 million jobs in 2018, according to the 2019 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
