Eldoret's 1974 Housing Estate Set for Major Upgrade Under AHP [Photos]

An old housing estate built in Eldoret in 1974 is set for a major transformation under the government's Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).

In a statement on Friday, October 16, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the ongoing construction of the Kidiwa Affordable Housing Project – Phase 2 is expected to replace the ageing residential units with modern apartments.

Omollo said the redevelopment was aimed at replacing the old houses, which no longer met the housing needs of the expanding city.

"The ongoing construction of the Kidiwa Affordable Housing Project - Phase 2, is replacing the old Low-Cost (LC) houses built by the Eldoret Municipal Council in 1974, which can no longer meet the needs of the city's growing population," he wrote.

According to the PS, the redevelopment covers a 16-acre estate and will feature 15 residential blocks, each rising 14 storeys high. 

The development is planned to accommodate 2,148 housing units divided into three categories to serve different income groups.

The project will comprise 552 social housing units, 1,056 affordable housing units and 540 market-rate apartments. The mix is intended to provide housing options for households with varying financial capabilities.

Beyond the residential units, the project will incorporate recreational, social and community facilities designed to support residents and improve the overall living environment within the estate.

Omollo said the planned amenities would include facilities for sports, recreation, social gatherings and early childhood education.

"Planned amenities include basketball courts, a swimming pool, clubhouse, community centre, Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre and ample parking," he added 

Elsewhere, the government has completed the construction of the Eldoret Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Cherunya, Kapseret, with the facility awaiting commissioning.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 14, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the project reflected President William Ruto’s ambition to transform Africa from a market dependent on imported goods into a producer and exporter of high-value products.

"President William Samoei Ruto has consistently held the conviction that Africa, endowed with vast natural and human resources, can transform from a consumer of imported goods into a producer and exporter of high-value commodities," he wrote.

Omollo said the Eldoret EPZ was an example of how the government intended to translate that vision into practical economic opportunities by expanding the country’s industrial capacity and creating products for international markets.

"At the Eldoret Export Processing Zone (EPZ), that conviction is taking shape in practice, as Kenya builds the industrial capacity to turn local resources into products for global markets," he added.

Omollo said its establishment is expected to strengthen Eldoret’s position as an industrial and commercial centre in the North Rift region.

"Developed by the National Government, the facility is designed to make Eldoret City a major centre for export-oriented manufacturing, building on the region's agricultural potential, skilled workforce and strong transport links," he further said.

According to Omollo, the EPZ will accommodate several industries, with agro-processing, apparel and textiles identified as key areas of focus. 

Other planned activities include pharmaceutical production, business process outsourcing (BPO), information technology-enabled services and cold-chain logistics.

"The zone will anchor agro-processing, apparel and textiles, while providing space for pharmaceuticals, BPO and IT-enabled services and cold-chain logistics," he explained.