By Agwanda JaMach

THE government has secured a grant worth Sh. 1.5 billion from the Chinese Development Bank to increase housing units in the country.

Housing Minister Peter Soita Shitanda announced that the funds will be used to put up 800 residential units in Kisumu and hostels for female students at Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega.

Shitanda says that the hostels are expected to house 3,000 female students.

He says the university has a population of 11,000 students and accommodation has been a challenge to the institution.

The minister says that currently National Housing Corporation officers are in Western Kenya laying ground for the project that will address the housing shortage being experienced in the region.

Speaking in Kisumu during a visit to Kenya Slum Upgrading Projects, Shitanda noted that the housing officers are in consultations with the municipal councils before they embark on the projects.

He announced that they are ready and waiting for the release of the funds from the financier to enable them carry out the project.

Ends.