Kitale National Polytechnic students struggling with expensive rent and unsafe neighbourhoods are set to get relief from a Sh414 million student village already under construction, which will accommodate 1,160 learners.
President William Ruto laid the foundation stone for the project in Saboti Constituency, Trans Nzoia County, under the Affordable Housing Programme, promising additional hostel blocks to accommodate more students.
“We are building these hostels, which will accommodate 1,160 students here,” Ruto said during his tour of the institution.
The President said the government was investing in student accommodation to improve learners’ welfare, adding that more hostels would be constructed to meet growing demand.
“We will put another block of hostels,” he told the students, without disclosing the cost or completion timeline for the additional facility.
Chief Principal Tom Mulati said the project would address the accommodation challenges that force students to seek housing outside the institution, where rents are expensive and some end up in risky neighbourhoods.
“The development will help solve the accommodation challenge facing our students. Some are forced to seek accommodation outside the institution, where it is expensive, while others end up in risky neighbourhoods,” Mulati said.
The student village will include study rooms, shops, food stalls, mini-marts and laundrettes, providing learners with accommodation and essential services within the development.
Ruto also announced plans for a student funding arrangement targeting university and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) learners from January, but did not provide details on eligibility or the level of financial support.
