Murang’a hit by acute housing shortage

By James Wakahiu
Demand for housing in
Murang’a County has risen
drastically, surpassing supply,
something that has seen a good number
of people working in the region
seek shelter elsewhere in towns like
Juja and Thika.
Jacob Mwangangi who is the
Chairman of Murang’a County Cooperatives,
revealed this recently
while speaking at Kabuta in Kiharu
Constituency during the issuance
of title deeds and launch of Kabuta
Phase 8 project on a 15-acre parcel
of land owned by the giant Broad
Borders Housing Co-operative Society.
Mwangangi pointed out that the
county lacked ample investment in
terms of housing that could have
otherwise catered for the emerging
deficit caused by the influx of human
resource and students in the county.
He said there has been a huge
growth in the number of students
in Murang’a town after Murang’a
University College was awarded a
charter.
“Recently, Pioneer International
University also opened a campus
in Murang’a town not mentioning
other private colleges in the town.
Likewise, with devolution, the
workforce within the county has
tripled, increasing the demand
for housing,” added Mwangangi.
As a result, he said, the cost
of housing has skyrocketed,
leaving most low-income earners
without proper housing.
It is for this reason that the
Society embarked on investing
in real estate and housing both
for its members and the general
public.
The organisation has invested
in land in Murang’a and 26
other counties with traits of fast
growing towns that that have exceeded
supply in housing.
Its Chairman, Jeremy Karemeri
explained that their driving
force was to ensure their members
acquired plots in very affordable and
pocket friendly terms.
“We have always gone out of
our way to give our members an
opportunity to pay for their plots in
installments. This programme has
attracted quite a number of members
especially those low-income earners
who would have otherwise not managed
to raise the lump sum at ago,”
said Jeremy.
During the launch, over 300 title
deeds were issued to members. Some
of the members like Jane Muchai and
Rev. James Peter Mwangi lauded the
Co-operative for its support, saying
they would not have been in a position
to own land had it not been for
the intervention of Broad Borders
Cooperative Society.

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