1.INCORPORATION OF MURRAMING AND TARMACKING OF GRADED INTERNAL ACCESS ROADS IN THE YEAR 2023/2024 WORKPLAN

The National Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the County Government of Machakos as part of their effort to enhance Kenya’s access to housing made a mutually beneficial arrangement with the Kingsize Housing Co-operative Society Limited to provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate development of four hundred (400) housing units. In this mutual arrangement, the plot owners participated in the sharing of opening and grading of 4.5 km internal access roads costs. This was important to elicit proper sense of project ownership among all beneficiaries.

In accordance with the Public Roads Act NO.12 OF 2002, housing estate internal access roads within the county authority are public roads and the road authority concern is responsible for the construction, care and maintenance of the housing estate roads.The County Government of Machakos respective county authority under whose jurisdiction this site falls is, therefore, mandated to develop and maintain sustainable transport and infrastructure facilities to enable efficient movement of goods and people.

In line with this, the society has requested The Chief Executive County Member of Transport, Roads, Public Works and Housing to incorporate our request to murram and tarmack 4.5 km internal access roads network in the 2023/2024 financial year work plan. This is also important for the plot owners get the value of the revenue raised in form of hefty land rates and other land taxes. Land rates are predictable. This means that the County Government can reliably provide funding to County Government essential services such roads, water, schools hospital and street lighting.

2. REHABILITATION OF WATER SUPPLY PIPELINE

The water supply pipeline along kingsize housing proposed estate access link road was funded by the National Government through the Ministry of Housing in the year 2009 at a cost of ksh.1.7 million. This water supply pipeline has not been in a functional state for over six (6) years. This is because the water supply line was destroyed during the maintenance works on the link access road which included the execution of remedial works, gravelling and drainage works carried out about six (6) years ago. Under the Water Services Regulatory Rules 25 (5) of 2012, it is an offence for anyone to enter into or interfere with, puncture any equipment facility and infrastructure of a licensee.

It is against this background that the society requested the Ministry of water, Sanitation, Irrigation and Natural Resources to rehabilitate or replace the water supply pipeline and enhance its sustainability since Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company was unable to undertake rehabilitation or replacement of this water supply pipeline that runs under the same company. The rehabilitation of this water supply line is estimated to cost the County Government of Machakos about Ksh. 1.8 million. The advantage that would accrues when this water supply line is optimally functional to provide water services according to good utility practice, is that not only the potential customers will have a sustainable access to clean and safe water services, but also generate an additional revenue of more than ksh.4 million to Mavoko Water and Sewerage Company.

3. INSTALLATION OF HIGH ELETRIC POWERED SECURITY FLOODLIGHT MASTS.

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company has completed the construction work and a transformer was erected on the site to facilitate power supply connectivity. The society has requested The Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Lands, Department of Energy to install five (5) high electric powered floodlight masts, and also incorporate street lighting installation in the 2023/2024 financial year workplan. This would play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for residents by providing illumination in public spaces, promote safety and security to deter criminals and enabling various outdoor activities at night. This request is consistent with Department of Energy mandate to provide security lights to illuminate large home areas.

4. BUILDING OF EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) FACILITY

Due to increase of population and economic activities in the proposed housing estate, Early Child Development (ECD) facility has become a priority. It is against this background that the society wrote to National Land Commission expressing its intent to build a nursery school on parcel of land L.R.20172/292. Through the National Land Commission County Coordinator, and the Chief Officer, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, an authority to build a nursery school was granted to the Kingsize Housing Co-operative Society Limited subject to approval of the building plans from the planning office in Mavoko Sub–County.

The purported approval of building plans for the Early Child Development facility, however, faced a few legal challenges. IN CONSIDERATION of the sub-division approved scheme and issuance of grants in respect of our land Reference Number 20172 and prior to the execution, KINSIZE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED surrendered all its right and interest in the said piece of land including the public utilities to the Government of Kenya in accordance with conditions set out by the Commissioner of Lands. The Parcel of land L.R.20172/292 is a public utility and it is owned by the Machakos County Government. The application for the development of Early Child facility building plans approval by the Kingsize Housing Co-operative Society was not granted.

In the light of the above legal issues, the society requested the County Government, which is responsible for building Early Child Development centres, to build this much needed facility. The architectural drawings for this ECD centre have been submitted to the Chief Officer, ECDE Vocational and Training in the Ministry of Education, County Government of Machakos.

5. MEMORANDUM

A memorandum on all the above development activities was presented to the County Government Governor during the public participation forum held at Chief’s camp in Mlolongo in the month of September 2023 for County Government identify the opportunities available and facilitate the building of four hundred affordable housing units.