President William Ruto, during a visit to Kisumu on Saturday, announced nearly 10,000 job openings in the construction sector and urged local youth to seize the opportunity.
The announcement came as President Ruto addressed a large crowd in Kondele before heading to commission the Lumumba Affordable Housing Project in Kisumu.
Ruto outlined his administration’s plans to build 10,000 affordable houses in Kisumu County, noting that this expansive project would generate a significant number of jobs for the region’s young persons.
“Leo mimi naenda kuanzisha program ya Lumumba hapo. Tunajenga nyumba elfu mbili na mia tatu hapa Lumumba. Hii Kisumu yote, Kisumu county tunajenga nyumba elfu kumi Kisumu county,” Ruto said.
“Nyumba elfu mbili na mia tatu naenda kuanzisha leo alafu itafwata hio ingine. Na mimi nataka nyinyi vijana wa Kisumu, hio kazi amboyo iko pale tunahitaji vijana karibu elfu kumi wa kufanya hio kazi,” he added.
Ruto urged the youth not to be choosy with the kind of jobs they want, insisting that ‘kazi ni kazi’.
“Nyinyi vijana wa Kisumu muko tayari ama nyinyi ni wale wa kuchagua jembe? Si tulikubaliana kazi ni kazi?” he asked, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The President outlined the variety of roles available under the Lumumba Affordable Housing Project, covering a wide range of professions and trades.
“Muko tayari? Tunahitaji architect, tunahitaji surveyor, tunahitaji quality surveyor, tunahitaji electrician, tunahitaji mason, tunahitaji carpenter, tunahitaji steel fixer, tunahitaji transporter, tunahitaji mtu wa kufanya accounts ya kuhesabu pesa ya kulipa watu, tunahitaji watu wengi. Nyinyi vijana ya Kisumu muko tayari kwa hio kazi? Muko tayari jamani?”
Lumumba project
The Lumumba Affordable Housing Project, which began in July 2024 and is slated for completion by January 2026, is a 2,384-unit residential development located in Kisumu Central Constituency.
The site, previously a brownfield with deteriorating shanties, is being repurposed for the new multi-storeyed housing project.
The affected residents were compensated earlier this year to facilitate relocation.
This ambitious project will feature a mix of social housing, affordable housing, and market-rate housing units.
Specifically, the development includes 452 social housing units, 1,192 affordable housing units, and 740 market housing units.
Additionally, it will be equipped with key infrastructure such as waste receptacles, guard houses, play areas, and parking facilities, along with associated civil, mechanical, and electrical works.
The project is strategically located near the Kisumu city centre, providing easy access to local amenities, including Kaloleni Muslim Primary School, United Mall, and Kisumu Polytechnic.
Ruto’s call for job applications is a part of his broader economic strategy to boost employment and support economic development in regions that have historically been strongholds of the opposition.
The Kisumu project stands as a testament to these efforts, aiming to provide both housing and employment opportunities in a key urban centre.
