Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has urged Habitat for Humanity Kenya and its development partners to expand affordable housing programmes, saying the organisation's interventions have transformed the lives of thousands of vulnerable families in the county.
Speaking during the launch of Habitat for Humanity's "Let's Open the Door" campaign in Nairobi on Thursday, Ms Ndeti said the partnership between the county government and the organisation has delivered lasting improvements in housing, water access and education.
She said families that once lived in unsafe and inadequate houses in Masinga, Matungulu and Mavoko sub-counties now enjoy decent homes and improved sanitation, restoring dignity to many vulnerable households.
"In Machakos County, our partnership is not just written on paper. It is written on the smiling faces of our people," the governor said.
She noted that the collaboration has also transformed livelihoods through water projects in Masinga, where approximately 16 kilometres of water pipelines and water kiosks have been constructed.
According to Ms Ndeti, improved access to water has enabled local residents to establish income-generating activities, particularly benefiting women and young people who now have a reliable source of water for farming and small businesses.
"Communities are no longer just surviving. They are thriving," she said, describing the intervention as an example of sustainable community transformation.
The governor also highlighted Habitat for Humanity's support for education through a partnership with Computers for Schools Kenya, which saw 120 computers donated to six public schools across the county.
She welcomed the launch of the Opening the Door to Women Building Resilient Manyattas and Opening the Door to Jigger-Free Homes initiatives, saying they reflect a shared commitment to improving lives through decent housing.
The jigger-free homes initiative aims to replace earthen floors in 10,000 households over the next five years, while the resilient manyattas programme will support Maasai women in strengthening traditional homes using climate-resilient construction techniques.
While acknowledging the progress made, Ms Ndeti said many families still lack access to safe and decent housing and called on government, development partners and the private sector to scale up investment in housing programmes.
"The transformation we have witnessed in Machakos proves that this model works. But the need is still there. Let us enhance this programme and expand our reach so that thousands of other families can also have their doors opened to dignity and safety," she said.
The governor also pledged the county government's support for the development of a county housing policy in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, saying Machakos was ready to provide the political goodwill, technical support and community structures needed to accelerate implementation.
"When we open the door to a decent home, we open doors to education, good health, economic empowerment and a brighter Kenya," she said.
Habitat for Humanity launched the "Let's Open the Door" campaign as part of its global 50th anniversary celebrations, calling for greater investment in housing as a foundation for health, climate resilience, gender equality and economic development.
