State hands over Sh5.5b Nasewa Housing Project site to contractor
Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi -KNA
The State Department for Housing and Urban development today handed over the proposed Sh 5.5 billion Nasewa Industrial Park Affordable Housing Project site to the contractor who is expected to start off the project immediately.
Speaking during the occasion, Cassius Kusienya, Secretary of the Integrated Project Delivery Unit for the affordable housing program said the site will have 2000 house units together with associated infrastructure.
“We will have a level 3 hospital, ECD kindergarten, primary school, social hall, shopping Centre, a police post and chiefs’ office. The other amenities in the project will be 2 basketball pitches, football pitch and volleyball pitch,” he said.
Kusienya asked the contractor to ensure that the agreed delivery timeline for the project is achieved adding that funds have been set aside to ensure the project is finished on time.
“The project will take 24 months and the contractor is starting the work immediately. Enough funds have been put in place and therefore there should be no issues in honoring of certificate of payments and therefore we expect the work to be ongoing and delivered by the contractor on time,” he said.
He stated that the project will provide an opportunity for those working on the site to get accreditation from the required government bodies if they meet requirements.
“This project is going to provide employment as there is a clear directive that 70 per cent of the job be given to the local community.
"We are also going to collaborate with the National Construction Authority, NITA and TVETS to do onsite assessment for those with skills to be accredited. This will enhance their skills and give them the opportunity to work at other places when certified.” He said
The official urged the contractor to ensure there is proper consideration of occupational safety and health to avoid injuries and fatalities adding that enforcement officers will be doing routine inspection at the site to ensure the work place policy is observed and complied with.
“The houses we are going to construct will pull together a minimum of 5,000 people and with the accompanying infrastructure, this will change this area. There will also be employment opportunities for around 3,000 people when the project is done. There will also be jobs for those who will be working in other amenities like hospitals and schools” he said.
“I want people from this area to start registering with Boma yangu so that when these houses are done, they will not be taken by people from other places. We should also benefit by getting and staying in those houses something that is possible regardless of our economic status” he said
Busia County Director for Housing, Jason Abuga called on the community to fully support the project due to its benefit.
“This is our project and we should now own it by ensuring we cooperate and work well with the contractor. When you get an opportunity to work at the site, ensure you follow all the set guidelines including the safety measures and even time so that there is smooth working relationship between you and the people in charge’ he said
Abuga added that the government is determined to ensure that many other projects are established in Nasewa to add on the existing EPZA and the County Aggregated Industrial Park (CAIP) that will ensure the area have been fully transformed to an industrial area.
Busia Assistant County Commissioner Jackline Sabulei assured the team of the security during the progress of the work.