Nakuru County supports Boda Boda operators in brick-making technology

Written by Jeremy Ogolla

Nakuru County Government has rolled out a training programme for Boda Boda Saccos across the County to equip them with skills in alternative building technology that uses cheaper materials to boost the supply of affordable housing.

County Cooperatives Chief Officer, Kibet Kurgat said the the training will provide the Boda Boda team members with opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge to build cheap, affordable and decent houses.

“Governor Susan Kihika is proud of the Boda Boda people. This is why through her leadership, the County Government is investing in training programs like alternative building technology to enable them to tap into the housing sector so that you can also enjoy good living conditions,” said Kurgat.

The CO was speaking in Nakuru Vocational Training Centre in Kivumbini ward during the launch of the program targeting Boda Boda operators drawn from different Saccos across the County. He thanked the Department of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development for the initiative, calling on the participants to be the trainers of their colleagues.

“The program aims at building confidence in the participants to ensure they are well equipped with the right skills to deliver any type of training in any environment, especially to other Saccos, ” said the CO who added that the
The governor will soon launch the Boda Boda Sacco houses to motivate others to embrace such an initiative.

He was accompanied by the County Housing director Benard Maruhi, who thanked the Boda Boda operators for embracing such an initiative.

The Sacco groups slated to benefit from the first phase of the training are Discovery Sacco, Nakuru City Clock Housing, Newa Self Help Group, and NaxWest Sacco.

He said the County Government of Nakuru is equipping youths with new technological applications in the construction industry that reduce the cost of building materials.

“The use of alternative building materials other than stones could cut the overall cost of construction, hence increasing home ownership, especially to our Boda Boda operators across the County, ” said the Director.

In the new technology, the bricks are broad compared to quarried ones and are placed on each other without the need for binding mortar, helping builders to cut down on construction costs.

Maruhi thanked the management of Nakuru Vocational Training Centre, imploring the students to embrace such initiatives to hone their skills in the housing sector.

“The County has acquired high capacity Hydraform Interlocking Brick (HIB) making machines to help train on the production of the building blocks, ” said Maruhi.

The project directly supports Governor Susan Kihika’s agenda on housing which prioritizes the development of housing in the city and other urban areas.

According to Stephen Mwanda, Chair of NaxWest Sacco, their association, over the years, has initiated projects that have improved their lifestyle and enabled them to buy land for their members.

“Through this program, we now intend to develop our pieces of land by building more houses that will serve as a source of income through renting and free us from the burden of the tenancy,” said Mwanda.

He said they will continue motivating other groups to embrace the program and share the gained skills with their colleagues.

The move comes barely a year after the County administration set up an Alternative Building Materials Technology Center (ABMTC) at Kagoto Polytechnic in Bahati Sub-county to train and equip youths with skills in the manufacture and use of cheaper building materials.

Meanwhile, according to experts, there is an urgent need to review the 1940 building code that recognizes stone as the only building material. Due to its scarcity and cost, it is frustrating to develop affordable housing units by both the state and the private sector.