Iten Affordable Housing Project Turns Work into Education Opportunities
In Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, a town globally known for producing elite athletes, a different kind of transformation is taking shape, one that is quietly reshaping livelihoods, education and the quality of life for residents working on the Affordable Housing Project.
27-year-old, Sharon Kosgei a resident engaged in general works at the construction site says the project is more than a source of income. It is a bridge between survival today and a better future tomorrow.
Kosgei says the wages she earns daily have become a lifeline, helping her pay school fees for her child while also keeping alive her own academic ambitions.
“The money I get from this job helps me a lot with my child’s school fees. It has also given me hope that I can go back and further my education,” she says.
A trained Mechanical Engineering graduate, Kosgei now has her eyes set on upgrading her qualifications. The income from the project, she explains, is what she is relying on to fund her personal growth and return to her field with stronger skills and better opportunities.
Beyond her personal story, she says the impact of the project is visible across Iten, especially among young people who have gained employment at the construction site. For many, it is their first stable source of income.
“I first saw a similar Affordable Housing Project in Nairobi last year. Seeing it now in Iten has been encouraging because it is helping many youths here get jobs,” she says.
According to Wanga Ian, the Clerk of Works representing the government, the Iten Affordable Housing Project Phase One consists of 228 housing units.
The development includes a mix of unit types, three-bedroom, two-bedroom, studio, one-room and two-room units, as well as commercial spaces such as shops.
Currently, the project stands at 57 per cent physical progress, against a 75 per cent time lapse, with over 100 workers on site and labour mobilisation averaging around 150 workers at peak.
Ian notes that the project has intentionally integrated local youth through empowerment programmes, allowing residents to work as masons, carpenters, steel fixers and general labourers.
Beyond employment, he says the housing units are designed to improve quality of life, offering self-contained homes with a reliable water supply and modern amenities.
“The project has impacted the community positively. It is not just about construction, it is about giving people decent housing and better living standards,” he explains.
At its core, the project is also shaping education outcomes and long-term social mobility. For workers like Kosgei, stable income means children can stay in school, while adults can pursue further studies and technical training.
This aligns with the broader government objective under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030, which seeks to improve living standards through decent housing, infrastructure and inclusive economic opportunities.
The project also incorporates essential infrastructure, including a wastewater treatment plant, borehole, garbage receptacle, chain-link fence and gatehouse, elements designed to support healthier and more dignified living conditions.
As construction continues, residents say the real impact of the Iten Affordable Housing Project is already being felt, not just in the rising buildings, but in the classrooms funded, skills gained and the renewed belief that better lives are within reach.
