Cabinet Secretary Wahome Tours Ol Kalou Housing Project as More Units Take Shape

Construction at the Ol Kalou Affordable Housing Project in Nyandarua County is progressing steadily, with hundreds of new units rising under one of the government's flagship housing developments outside Nairobi.

Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome toured the site to assess progress, describing it as a key development initiative for the Ol Kalou area.

The project forms a flagship component of the national Affordable Housing Programme, which aims to expand access to decent, affordable housing while creating jobs and stimulating local economic activity during construction.

So far, 110 housing units have been completed at the site. A further 420 units are currently under construction, designed in a range of sizes to meet the differing needs of residents in Ol Kalou.

The development extends beyond residential units. Planned and ongoing works include a kindergarten, a primary school, a football pitch, a social hall, and commercial stalls, alongside supporting infrastructure such as a guard house, a manned gate, a boundary wall, a garbage collection area, a powerhouse, and cabro-paved walkways and driveways.

The inclusion of social amenities alongside housing reflects a broader pattern across Kenya's Affordable Housing Programme, where developments are increasingly designed as integrated neighbourhoods rather than standalone residential blocks. Combining schools, recreational space, and commercial areas within housing projects is intended to reduce the need for residents to travel elsewhere for basic services.

The Affordable Housing Programme has been positioned by the government as one of its central economic pillars, combining urban housing delivery with construction sector job creation. Projects under the programme are typically delivered through the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company framework and county-level partnerships, supporting both ownership and rental housing units across multiple counties.

The Ol Kalou project's continued progress, with over 500 units either completed or under construction, places it among the more advanced housing developments currently underway outside Nairobi.