Busia: President Dr. William Ruto has expressed the government’s commitment to ensure that all the 47 counties benefit from development projects. Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for a 14-storey Affordable Housing Project at Busia Agricultural Training Centre, Ruto stated that Busia has lagged behind in development for a long time.
According to Kenya News Agency, the president announced that 2,010 affordable housing units will be constructed at the Agricultural Training Centre with Sh5.7 billion allocated for the project. He highlighted that approximately 3,000 youth will gain employment opportunities at the construction site and encouraged them to apply for the available positions.
Ruto also mentioned that an additional 2,000 affordable houses are being constructed at Nasewa Industrial Park within Matayos constituency. He said Sh18 billion has been set aside through the housing levy and housing fund to construct 10,000 affordable houses, 14 modern markets, and 6,000 student hostels in Busia.
Additionally, the president revealed that Sh1.3 billion has been allocated to provide power to 15,000 houses in Busia County, with a target to connect them to electricity by June next year. He assured that any remaining houses will be addressed subsequently.
Infrastructure development plans were also discussed, with the Matayos-Nangina-Sisenye road, Butula-Nambale-Amukura-Amagoro road, and a 10-kilometre road leading to the Special Economic Zone at Nasewa to be tarmacked starting January next year. Furthermore, Sh900 million has been allocated for the construction of a new stadium on a 20-acre land at Busia Agricultural Training Centre.
The President issued a warning to the contractor working on the modern market at Korinda, urging them to expedite the work or face contract termination. Additionally, he confirmed that the standard gauge railway will be extended from Naivasha-Kisumu and Busia to facilitate connectivity to other East African countries.
In his address, Ruto emphasized his commitment to ensuring national unity under a broad-based government and mentioned that divisive politics will not be tolerated. Busia Governor Paul Otuoma expressed gratitude for the development projects, noting they will create job opportunities for local youth. He urged the President to consider establishing the Jumuiya market alongside the modern markets.
Local leaders, including MPs from the seven constituencies and County Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo, expressed their support for the President and his initiatives. Among the projects visited by the Head of State were Bumbe TTI for the groundbreaking of hostels in Samia Sub County, inspection of Alupe hostels and a tuition block in Teso South Sub County, groundbreaking of hostels at Amukura TTC in Teso Central, and laying of a foundation stone at Malaba Strategic market in Teso North Sub County.
The President was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya, CS for Environment Deborah Mulongo, and PS for MSME Susan Mangeni.