Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has issued an update on the construction of Kisumu’s Lumumba Affordable Housing Project.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 3, Omollo reflected on the origins of the estate and its long-standing significance in Kisumu.
“For 63 years, the original Lumumba Estate in Kisumu, built by the colonial government in 1961, the same year as Patrice Lumumba’s death, served as an iconic residential neighborhood,” he said.
Omollo noted that while the estate had served residents for decades, its structures had become outdated and unsuitable for the city’s growing population.
“Its aging structures, however, could no longer meet the demands of a growing city. With Kenya’s new transformation agenda and Kisumu’s elevation to City status, the need for decent, modern housing became urgent,” he added.
Omollo explained that the new development is designed to bridge that gap by delivering modern housing units under different categories to cater for diverse income groups.
“The Lumumba Affordable Housing Project answers that need. The development features 2,348 units across 15 modern 17-floor blocks, offering studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes under Social, Affordable and Market-Rate schemes,” he continued.
Omollo further pointed to the economic benefits of the project, particularly in job creation for local residents during the construction phase.
“The project has also created direct employment for over 1,800 workers daily, including masons, steelworkers, plumbers and electricians,” he further said.
Omollo also outlined the role played by his department in ensuring the project’s implementation aligns with the government’s urban renewal objectives.
“The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration has played a key role in implementing the project, supporting urban renewal and ensuring safer, well-managed neighborhoods,” he concluded.
