President Ruto Hands Over Keys at Completed Mabera Housing Project

President William Ruto officially opened the Mabera Estate Phase I in Kuria West, Migori County, on Monday, marking the completion of the first 60 units under the national housing initiative. During the ceremony, the President handed over keys to new homeowners who had secured their units through the Boma Yangu platform, which remains the primary portal for the program.

The completed development features a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. The project was designed with a specific focus on urban planning in rural settings, incorporating a secure perimeter wall, paved access roads, and dedicated pedestrian walkways. Site amenities include landscaped green spaces and a children’s play area to serve the new residents.

Speaking at Mabera Grounds, President Ruto emphasized that the transition to high-density affordable housing is a strategic move to curb the subdivision of agricultural land. He noted that by providing modern vertical housing in centers like Mabera Town, the government aims to preserve larger tracts of land for farming, which is critical for food security in the region.

The financial breakdown for the Mabera units shows a range of pricing tiers. One-bedroom social units start at KES 960,000, while two-bedroom affordable units are priced at KES 2,000,000. For those seeking larger spaces, three-bedroom affordable units were marketed at KES 3,000,000. Market-rate units within the same development were slightly higher, with three-bedroom options reaching KES 3,600,000.

Beyond the housing units, the visit included the laying of the foundation stone for the Mabera Modern Market. This KES 372 million infrastructure project is expected to accommodate over 1,000 traders once complete. The market design includes cold storage facilities specifically intended to support the local fish trade from Lake Victoria, addressing long-standing post-harvest loss issues for the locals.

Government officials confirmed that the Mabera project is part of a larger KES 28 billion investment portfolio for Migori County. This allocation is intended to fund approximately 8,000 housing units across various constituencies, including Kehancha and Rongo, alongside student hostels for Rongo University and local KMTC campuses.

The locals have been encouraged to continue registering via the *832# USSD code to participate in subsequent phases. With Phase I now occupied, focus shifts to Phase II and other regional projects like the Sori housing site, where the President also conducted a site inspection during his Nyanza region tour.