For years, towns like Chepalungu in Bomet and Emgwen in Nandi County remained stagnant – low economic activity, dwindling opportunities, and a struggling workforce.
But, that’s changing.
The government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP) under the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA) is not just building homes – it’s revitalizing entire communities.
A Welder’s Dream Revived
John Kipkorir, a welder in Bomet, once struggled to get orders, sometimes going an entire year without work.
But when AHP projects took off, his small juakali workshop transformed into a thriving business.
“I am now producing more than I ever imagined,” he says, grateful for the steady demand for construction materials.
From Grief to Self-Reliance
Chepkirui Joan, a widow and mother of two, had no stable income – until she saw an opportunity.
She set up a food kiosk near the Emgwen Affordable Housing project, selling chapatis, mandazis, and githeri to construction workers.
“I never imagined I’d stand on my own two feet again,” she says.
Now, she feeds her family and calls for the project to continue, knowing it’s giving ‘hustlers’ like her a chance to thrive.
More Jobs, Less Crime
Youth who were once idle, some even turning to crime, have found employment through the housing projects.
In Eldoret, Joyce Waceke, a civil engineering graduate, took a job as a casual laborer at the Kidiwo Affordable Housing project.
She was soon promoted to supervisor and now earns enough to support herself.
“I no longer rely on my parents,” she says.
At the Makenji site, project agent Michael Mwololo confirms that over 120 youth are engaged daily.
“This project has been a lifeline, keeping them from criminal gangs and alcoholism,” he explains.
A Boost for TVET Training
With housing projects demanding skilled labor, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are experiencing increased enrollment.
In some counties, up to 250 skilled youth are working daily on these sites, learning, earning, and even launching their own businesses.
Kericho County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo highlights a drop in crime, gambling, and domestic violence, attributing it to youth involvement in the program.
“They must take part in this project – it’s changing lives.”
Beyond Construction: A New Economy
The Affordable Housing Programme is not just about shelter. It’s about economic mobility.
According to Lands and Housing CS Alice Wahome, housing projects are catalysts for local business growth.
Restaurants, milk vendors, and vegetable suppliers are emerging to meet the needs of the new workforce and future tenants.
Once these houses are occupied, a new wave of economic activity will follow – small traders, boda boda operators, and service providers will benefit, further injecting life into towns that were once asleep.
This is more than housing. It’s a transformation.
To learn more on affordable housing and how to register for a unit, log into the Boma Yangu website.
