Jua Kali artisans who fabricated windows and doors for the first phase of the affordable housing project in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County have received a payment of Sh10 million for the services rendered.
The artisans operating under Jua Kali Artisans association received the money during a ceremony presided over by the County executive for Trade, Industrialization, cooperatives and Tourism, John Muiru and Nyandarua Central DCC Michael Olooltua.
The head of Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) in Nyandarua Ann Kuria said eight groups of artisans formed the association to bag the tender for supply of metal windows and doors for the housing project.
Kuria lauded the Government saying the Affordable housing program will not only address housing deficit in the country but creates employment for youth while empowering local jua Kali Artisans
Kuria appealed to County government to be supporting the artisans to participate in East African Trade fare where they can showcase their products and increase their visibility.
She said the Authority has been supporting the artisans by providing them equipment and market linkages.
Olooltua advised the groups to acquire necessary tools to increase their chances of bagging more orders for the future government projects in the County like the next phase of the housing project and building of markets.
He said soon the County will launch ‘trade fund’ that will be a revolving fund for funding groups that will win tenders to supply products to projects in the County adding that a part from markets to be built in Kinangop and Kipipiri by the national government, the artisans will also have a chance to get orders for products when building of a university in Nyandarua will kick off.
The associations chairman Charles Gaikia said the Housing Project has placed them at another level and urged the Government to engage the Association in the other ongoing Affordable Housing Projects in the county.
He also called on the government to provide a three-phase electricity supply in the jua kali sheds in Ol Kalou town to enhance service delivery.
The State Department for Housing and Urban Development has ring fenced various services among them provision of doors, windows in the Affordable Housing Program for local Jua Kali Associations with Housing PS Charles Hinga saying the Government is creating a consumptive demand for these items to empower the sector and create employment for the youths.
