Lamu Governor backs Housing Levy

Lamu, June 13, 2023

by Amenya Ochieng

Lamu governor Issa Timamy has said he fully supports the Housing Levy Fund, as it will create jobs and improve living standards of the people.

Timamy said the bill will also aid in actualizing the Lamu Spatial Plan that is aimed at urbanizing the county into a resort and port city hub.

Speaking to KNA during an exclusive interview at the county headquarters, the governor further said the proposed housing fund will aid in the urban planning of Lamu’s township areas of Mokowe, Hindi, Mpeketoni and Witu.

“The Fund whose aim is to provide affordable housing for Kenyans will aid in providing houses especially for those moving to rapidly urbanizing areas, where the county is expected to have an influx of people, once the Lamu Port kicks into high gear,” he said.

However, he stated that considerations need to be made to the Housing Levy Fund to make it optional for those who already own houses.

Timamy further revealed that the county government had already set aside five acres of land in Witu, where the national government will construct at least 1,000 housing units across the county's township areas, under the affordable housing plan, which he added was in line with the 2016 Lamu County Spatial Plan.

“The affordable housing units will most likely provide housing for workers who will be tied to the LAPSSET project,” he added.

He reiterated Lamu county government’s commitment towards resolving the grazing corridor debate, with a view to resolving the perennial pastoralists/farmers conflict among different communities living in the county.

The same sentiments were echoed by the county executive for Land, Water Urban and Physical planning Tashrifa Mohammed, who admitted that the county experiences a myriad of challenges related to land based resources such as human-wildlife conflicts, encroachment on fragile ecosystem, unplanned settlements and depletion of water sources, which she noted can best be addressed within a planned framework.

“The Lamu County Spatial Plan (2016-2026) apart from being in line with the national government's affordable housing agenda, aims to address the aforesaid challenges in order to improve the living standards of the people through employment creation, reduction of poverty and creation of wealth as well guide sustainable development,” said Tashrifa, adding that the initiative will spur job creations through construction as well as supply of building materials.

Courtesy ; K. N. A