Nyamira: The site for the construction of student hostels at Borabu Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Nyamira County has officially been handed over to Sleek International, the contractor tasked with implementing the project. Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Regional Lead from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, Nyaigoti Mogeni, announced that the Sh144 million project is set to address the acute shortage of student accommodation at the institution.
According to Kenya News Agency, Borabu TTI is recognized as a Centre of Excellence for Electronics and Electrical Installation courses in the entire Nyanza region. It attracts students from across the country who require decent and modern hostel facilities to ensure a conducive learning environment. Mogeni emphasized that the government’s initiative to construct hostels in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions aims to enable students from any part of Kenya to comfortably reside and study in their respective institutions.
Nyamira County Commissioner Erastus Mbui, who presided over the event, encouraged residents to support the project and capitalize on employment opportunities that will arise during the construction phase. He highlighted that the project would transform Borabu TTI’s capacity to accommodate more students and address the lack of standard accommodation infrastructure in its semi-urban setting.
Eng Hazary Nyang’au, a quantity surveyor from U Design Consultants and the project consultant, assured that there will be strict supervision and quality control throughout the construction period. Nyang’au detailed that the hostel block will house 340 students and include study rooms, shops, food stalls, a laundromat, and other essential amenities. External works will encompass parking areas, access roads, a sewer system, an underground water tank, a borehole, and a wastewater treatment plant.
Paul Gisemba, representing Sleek International, assured that the company is prepared to deliver the project ahead of the stipulated 12 months, with a commitment to sourcing most of the labor locally. This approach is expected to benefit the local community significantly through employment opportunities.
Dr. George Were, Principal of Borabu TTI, expressed gratitude for the development, noting that the hostel project would enhance the institution’s image and solve persistent accommodation challenges. He acknowledged the government’s prioritization of Borabu TTI under the Affordable Housing for Students Programme, making it the first in Nyamira County to benefit from such an initiative.
Regional Lead Mogeni further assured that all four constituencies in Nyamira County with technical institutions will benefit from similar hostel projects, with the Borabu TTI project being the pioneer.