The accommodation shortage at Chuka Technical and Vocational College is soon going to be a thing following the construction of two blocks of hostels each with a total capacity of 1,820 people.
Implemented through the Affordable Housing Program (AHP), the project offers a reprieve to hundreds of students and parents, who have been struggling with accommodation challenges amidst a surge in student population.
In an interview, Mr Kimathi Bundi, Deputy Principal in Administration, Finance and Planning, spoke proudly about the project saying things were looking up for the institution citing the surging number of trainees.
Tucked deep inside Chuka-Igambang’ombe, the institution now boasts of a population 1,820 trainees spread across seven departments including Building and Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Department, ICT Department, Business and Institutional Management.
“We sincerely appreciate President Dr. William Ruto together with his Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for this good initiative of the Affordable Housing Project,” he said. The project is being implemented and supervised by the State Department of Housing.
“This project will provide our trainees with good accommodation since it will be housing 910 males and 910 females, totalling to 1820,” he said, adding: “It is also giving employment to the community, the people surrounding the institution.”
Kaanwa trading center. He said that the contractor assured them that 200 locals will be hired, adding that the ongoing infrastructure development is going to open up the region citing the tarmacking of the road leading to the institution from Kaanwa.
He added that the project will enhance the courses they are offering since the trainees will get an opportunity to learn practical skills at the site. “Our trainees will be engaged in this project, and especially those students who are doing the building and civil engineering, as well as electrical and electronic courses,” he said.
Eng. Enock Yegon, who supervises the project on behalf of the institution, said the contractor has already moved to the site.
“Actually, this project enhances the two aspects of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses because we are moving to the issue of modularisation curriculum whereby we are intending to impart the skills through training and to the actual work,” he explained.
“Now having an affordable housing project, this will also enrich trainees to have the actual thing on ground from the class. This project has given us a lot of potential to rise up as an institution because we have been having a challenge of accommodation when it comes to college,” he pointed out.
“The trainees are so grateful because they have seen the way their accommodation has eased towards their line of academic trip and also to the community is happy because this place is opening up because we also have a project from Kenya Rural Roads Authority,” he added.
