Ngilu tips Chinese investors ahead of Premier's visit

Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu Friday asked Chinese investors to consider financing housing projects as a way to control rural-urban migration.

The Lands CS was speaking at a ground breaking ceremony for Fountain Garden- a gated community’s apartments to be built along Ngong road on Muringe-Ndemi drive area by Chinese company, Catham Properties Limited owned by Mr Guo Dong.

According to the minister, a steady reduction in poverty levels has seen the improvement of the economic livelihoods of the population and fuelling a higher demand for better housing.

She asked the Chinese delegation that arrived Thursday evening ahead of China’s Republic Prime Minister Li Keqiang visit on Friday to consider investing in housing for this would reduce the number of those living in deplorable conditions in the slum areas and improve their livelihoods.

“We need to deal with our slums once and for all. Please tell your prime minister to talk about housing and how China will help Kenya overcome this thorny issue. I look forward to working with your Government in the Lands Ministry,” she said.

The minister also said that the government was aiming at easing housing problems by developing 300,000 housing units in the next four years.

Mrs Ngilu asked the Chinese investors to partner with the government so as to develop local houses that are affordable to Kenyans.

Launching of this project comes a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta threw his weight behind the minister on the land reforms she has initiated in her ministry despite opposition by the National Lands Commission.

NLC is seeking a court order to suspend the gazette notices of May 2 and 4 recommending the closure of the lands offices for 10 days to pave way for digitisation of the records.

According to the Lands commission, the closure of the registry offices has stalled services and they want the decision to be quashed to allow them access their offices.

However, President Kenyatta commended the Lands CS for her courage to bring the desired reforms to the ministry and asked her to maximise the 10-day closure to complete the exercise.
The President who had made an impromptu visit to the Ministry of Lands headquarters at Ardhi House challenged those opposed to restructuring of the ministry to give Ms Ngilu a chance.