The State Department for Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday laid bare an ambitious portfolio of projects in Kiambu County worth a staggering Sh58.9 billion, spanning affordable homes, modern markets, student hostels, classrooms, civil works and street lighting.

The County Director of Housing, Michael Kiarie, presented the detailed scope during a meeting of departmental heads at the county commissioner’s office.

The report, compiled by the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, paints a vivid picture of transformation underway across the county.

Under the Affordable Housing Programme alone, 17 projects targeting 17,719 housing units carry a combined price tag of Sh44.89 billion. These range from large-scale estates already at advanced stages of construction to others still in early works or procurement.

Modern markets account for nine projects delivering 7,000 stalls at a cost of Sh2.61 billion, while the Economic Stimulus Programme markets cover 25 projects with 4,600 stalls valued at Sh1.47 billion. Many of these markets are already past the halfway mark, with several nearing completion.

Student accommodation projects form another major pillar, with thousands of bed spaces planned or under construction for technical colleges and universities across the county.

Classroom construction for primary and secondary schools totals 45 classrooms under four projects worth Sh244.7 million. Civil works, including borehole drilling and access roads, stand at Sh100.9 million for ten projects, while street lighting installations covering 240 lights are valued at Sh29.5 million.

Kiarie used the occasion to issue a direct call to civil servants. “These are the houses you yourselves are contributing towards through the housing levy. I urge every public servant in this room and across the county to secure their units in the upcoming projects. Do not wait until the last minute,” he told the assembled departmental heads.

The presentation highlighted steady physical progress on multiple fronts, with several housing estates and markets already past 70 percent completion rate and others moving from planning into active construction.

The combined venture is designed to ease housing shortages, boost local trade, expand learning facilities and improve basic infrastructure across Kiambu’s urban and peri-urban centres.

With a grand total of Sh58.9 billion committed, the projects represent one of the largest concentrated development efforts in the county in recent years.

Kiarie emphasized that timely coordination among departments would be critical to keep the momentum and deliver the promised units and facilities to residents.

By Kipkorir Felix and Grace Naishoo