The Mountain Journal
A road map to construct hostels to accommodate students inside the public universities and colleges has kicked off targeting 8,000 units across the country.
In a multi billion shillings programme, the hostel blocks will accommodate students, and the investors scramble for land near the institution ready to establish business enterprises.
In Murang’a, the scramble for land has featured prominently near Kiharu Technical and Vocational Training College in Kiambugi market, Michuki National Polytechnic, Kandara TTI and Murang’a TTI, with traders buying land in the nearby localities.
At Kiambugi market in Kiharu constituency old buildings have been renovated by the new owners eager to accommodate the students as they report ahead of the hostel construction.
The family of Emily Mwangi was forced to hold a meeting after investors approached seeking to buy their land at Sh 4 million.
Peter Karanja said Mwangi said their family was forced to reject the offer as it was too low as they demanded more than six million shillings.
“The land sought is next to Kiria ini Murang’a road and the investors offer was too low,” said Karanja.
In Murang’a, President William Ruto’s in development tour last week launched construction of hostels at Kiharu Technical and Vocational Training College, at Murang’a University of Technology, and Murang’a KMTC.
In Nyeri county 16 hostel blocks will be constructed to ease the accommodation challenge.
The projects will be at Kieni TTC to benefit 580 students, Nyeri National Polytechnic for 1,360 students , KMTC Mukuruwe-ini for 580 students, Mathira TTI with 580 students, and Kagumo TTc with 680 learners.
Moses Ngure, a student at Kieni TTI appreciates the plan for the construction of the hostels citing the suffering the learners go through in search of shelter in the peoples compound.
“Upon admission one is directed in the villages between Chaka and Karicheni to search for rental houses majority in the family set up. The students walk long distances from the rental houses to the institution,” said Ngure.
Housing and Urban Planning Principal Secretary Charles Hinga says the 8,000 bed units will go along to support the young access education and ease students’ challenge in acquiring a decent accommodation .
“ The demand for the hostels forced the government to allocate resources to ensure the learners have a better living environment,” said Mr Hinga.
Nyeri Housing Director Ms Asumptor Muthama said five hostel projects have been handed over to contractors while others are in the evaluation stage.
“Once the hostel projects are completed economic activities across the villages will be on the rise as there will be more business premises,” she said.
Nyeri National Polytechnic will benefit with one block for 1,360 students,, Kagumo TTC to get two blocks for 680 students, Kieni TTC – 580 students, Mukuruwe-ini Kmtc – 580 students, and Mathira TTI – 580 students
In Nyandarua the hostels for the Olkalou Vocational polytechnic will be constructed at Rurii while for the Nyandarua KMTC will be at Kwa Haraka market.
