Iten,
Thursday, April 25, 2024
KNA by Alice Wanjiru
Residents of Elgeyo Marakwet have called on the department of housing to give clear guidelines on the maintenance and management of common facilities of apartments constructed under the Affordable Housing Programme (AHP).
The residents told a team from the state department of housing led by the deputy director Boniface Mule that most government houses in the country were in a deplorable state due to lack of maintenance and therefore the need to have clear guidelines so that the AHP units do not suffer the same fate.
The team which was conducting a public participation exercise for the draft affordable housing regulations was also told that while the regulations says that a person earning sh.20,000 and below is eligible for deposit assistance, they should also consider extending the same to those earning from sh.21,000 but cannot raise the deposit.
The CEC lands Thomas Maiyo said the act should have categories outlining the percentage of deposit assistance one can get based on their income to enable as many people benefit from the programme.
However, Mule said that through the boma yangu app one can register and start saving for the deposit of the desired house adding that this would be a plus as one who completes their payments will be accorded the first priority during allocation once the houses are complete.
The government however assured Kenyans that they will be issued with a title deed as proof of ownership for a unit acquired under the programme once they complete their payments.
However, according to the AHP regulations, one will not be allowed to sell the house without an approval from the AHP board with residents being told this was to guard against people selling the units at market rates which was tantamount to making a benefit from a subsidy programme.
The residents were told that while contractors can come from any part of the country, welding works will be a preserve of the local jua kali sector while materials will also be sourced locally.
The county commissioner John Korir who chaired the exercise assured residents that the AHP programme was here to stay as it is enshrined in law dispelling fears raised by residents of losing their unit if there is change of regime.
Courtesy; KNA
