A section of residents of Homa Bay County have asked the government to allocate more funds for social housing and slum upgrading.

The residents hailed the Kenya Kwanza government for rolling out the affordable housing program, noting that thousands of jobs will be created from the projects.

They spoke during a public participation forum in Homa Bay town convened by the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

A business community representative Jack Nyambega noted that 60 construction workers have been able to get a source of income from the affordable housing project in Homa Bay.

Nyambega asked the house allocation committee to prioritize the low-income bracket like mama mbogas, the bodaboda people, and Jua Kali workers.

He said that the project provided jobs for the business community through supply of raw materials, which is a step forward in the county.

A religious group representative, Ben Odipo noted that the affordable houses were a boon for the vulnerable peo
ple.

He proposed a reduction in the affordable housing levy imposed on employers and employees from 1.5 to 0.5 percent.

A student leader at Tom Mboya University Langat Emmanuel, also proposed the cost of affordable houses be lowered to accommodate students, adding that it will also be beneficial in terms of security.

The Chairperson of Homa Bay County Disability Forum Tom Okiki, called for the inclusion of a representative of persons with disability in project committees to foster equity as per the constitution.

In addition, he asked the architects to provide passage for wheelchairs in designing the affordable houses.

During the Public Hearing, the Chairman of the Finance and National Planning Committee Francis Kimani Kuria stressed that the ongoing public hearings are not in contravention of any court order.

He further affirmed that in the next one week, the committee will be able to retreat, compile all the views of the public hearing from the selected 19 counties, and come up with a report.

Source:
Kenya News Agency

WINDHOEK: The European Union (EU) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) on Tuesday announced the commencement of the ‘Empowering Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Women, Youth, and Marginalized Communities as Equal Partners in Democracy’ (ECSO) project.’

The project, aimed at enhancing the participation of CSOs in governance and development issues stands at a budget of N.dollars 15 million, spanning 36 months from July 2023 to June 2026.

A joint statement availed here said the project’s implementation will be spearheaded by KAS with support from the Women’s Action for Development (WAD).

Focusing on the regions of //Karas, Kunene, and Erongo, where CSOs predominantly address gender dynamics, youth empowerment, and the concerns of marginalized communities, ECSO aims to strengthen these organizations through two core components: capacity building and advocacy activities.

‘These components have been identified as pivotal areas for civil society organizations striving for sustainability and impactful commun
ity change,’ the statement reads.

Building upon the success of two prior EU and KAS-supported projects, ECSO is designed to leverage existing structures.

In the statement, EU Ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins emphasized the significance of strengthening advocacy skills, particularly for youth and marginalized communities.

This project is intended to equip CSOs with the skills to advocate and complement the government’s efforts in achieving the goals outlined in Vision 2030 for the Namibian people, she said.

‘Despite Namibia’s progressive laws and policies in many civil rights areas, its commitment is hampered by often patriarchal structures, harmful gender practices and high levels of gender-based violence.

The project stands as a beacon for fostering a more inclusive and participatory democracy, where CSOs, women, youth, and marginalized communities play equal and vital roles in shaping the future of Namibia,’ the statement said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency