The Government has announced plans to construct an industrial park at the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) to promote production of local construction materials.

Industrialisation Principal Secretary Dr Juma Mukhwana made the revelation when he made his first maiden tour at the Athi River based cement manufacturing company.

He said that the move will go a long way in supporting the government’s agenda on affordable housing.

“Affordable housing is part of President William Ruto’s top agenda and our goal is to construct at least 250,000 houses every year for low income-earners in the next five years,” said Dr Mukhwana.He went on: “The government’s focus is in expanding access to quality, spacious, safe and secure houses across the country for our people at an affordable cost and by having a materials park in place, construction costs will go down,”

According to Mukhwana, construction of affordable housing units will also provide job opportunities for millions of Kenyans struggling to put food on the table.

Already, Ruto has commissioned 17, 850 units in Mukuru, Rongai and Kibera to ease the housing burden affecting low-income earners and the programme also targets the over 6.5 Million Kenyans living in slums and informal settlements.

“One of the fastest growing sectors in the country is the construction industry and yet the sector has relied heavily on imports for most construction materials such as tiles, plumbing, electrical and other materials. This is what we want to stop and have that money pumped into our economy,” said Mukhwana

The housing demands in the country is estimated at 250 000 houses annually and with a supply of only 50,000 new houses annually and there is an 80 per cent annual housing deficit.