Construction
The government has been called upon to consider lowering costs of construction materials so as to boost the housing sector in the country. A Murang’a philanthropist, Karanja Mburu Wamatangi has observed that a section of families are unable to afford materials like cement, iron sheets among others after their prices skyrocketed in the recent past.
Wamatangi said many families are grappling with hard economic times and that the government should consider bringing down the cost of construction materials to enable them to build standard houses for their families.
On Tuesday, speaking during the groundbreaking of construction of a permanent house for a poor family in Thengeini area of Muchungucha location in Murang’a, Wamatangi noted that currently it has been a big challenge to some families to have decent houses after prices of common materials went up.
“People may be forced to revert to building traditional houses which are not ideal in these climate conditions in case the situation persists,” said Wamatanga, adding that it is time families’ stop living in pathetic situations. Currently a 50-kilo bag of cement is retailing at Sh850 up from Sh650 in December last year marking an approximate increase of 20 percent.
Wamatangi said Obadiah Kariuki, whom he is assisting to build a 4-bedroomed house, is a father of four who has been living under deplorable conditions, in a makeshift structure after he unsuccessfully failed to build a permanent structure for his family.
Obadiah Kariuki(right) receiving donation of food stuffs from Karanja Mburu Wamatangi(left) in front of his temporary structured shelter in his home in Thengeini area of Muchungucha location in Murang’a. Photo by Anita Omwenga
“After witnessing the challenges the family was undergoing, I took the initiative to mobilise resources and build a four bedroomed house for them,” he said. The well-wisher said through his foundation, Can-Do-Kids International he will use close to Sh700,000 to construct the house within a period of 90 days in a bid to improve the living condition of the poor family.
He said many families were in need of help and people in villages should go out of their way and support where possible. “We have very many families suffering but support in whatever way may help some families come out of poverty,” he said.
On his part, Obadiah expressed gratitude to the philanthropist who will help him with a new shelter saying he could not believe that one day his family would have a better place to dwell in. “I can’t comprehend that I will live in a permanent house, we are used to endure torrents of rain, sleeping under harsh conditions and most of the time without food,” said Obadiah
He said he had previously tried to build a temporary structure twice for his family using local materials like iron sheets but due to unavoidable circumstances including mud slides and strong winds the structures were destroyed. “With a meagre salary of Sh7,000, I cannot afford to build a permanent house and also provide basic needs like food and clothing for my children,” he said, adding that since his wife passed on recently, he has been the sole provider.
Tabitha Wanjiku, a resident urged the government to consider reducing the cost of the materials noting that the escalating costs of construction is going to make many families opt to build temporary houses. “I do menial jobs where I earn Sh 250 a day and this amount cannot allow me to save up and buy iron sheets, cement plus other construction materials needed to build a permanent house, ” she averred.
