"I've learnt technical skills": Woman working at Affordable Housing site shares

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- The Pioneer Affordable Housing Project in Uasin Gishu employs around 800 workers daily, drawing both skilled and unskilled Kenyans aged 18 and above

- Former cereal trader Centrine Wafula joined the construction site and picked up technical skills she never expected to learn, including plumbing

- Clerk of Works Isaac Mwangi Maina says unskilled workers receive on-the-job training that can turn them into masons, carpenters and painters

A woman who once sold cereals for a living is now confidently discussing plumbing systems after joining a large-scale government construction project in Uasin Gishu County.

Centrine Wafula is among hundreds of workers currently employed at the Pioneer Affordable Housing Project, a flagship development set to deliver more than 2,100 housing units and one of the most visible sites under the government's Affordable Housing Programme.

From the Cereal Stall to the Construction Site

Wafula had no background in construction when she first arrived at the site. What she found, however, was a structured environment that transformed her understanding of an industry she had never considered.

"When I first came here, there were many things I didn't know, including plumbing. Now I have learnt so much and I feel like an engineer. I never imagined I would one day work on a project of this magnitude," she said.

Her experience reflects a deliberate approach by the project's management.

Isaac Mwangi Maina, Clerk of Works at the site, explained that unskilled workers are brought in through what he calls a "labour line" and then progressively trained alongside experienced professionals until they can perform skilled tasks independently.

"Through training and mentorship, many eventually become masons, carpenters, painters and other skilled professionals. By the end of the project, they leave with valuable skills that can earn them a living anywhere," Maina said.

The project currently draws an average of 800 workers each day. Entry requirements are minimal: applicants need only a national identity card and must be at least 18 years old. Maina stressed that county of origin is not a barrier.

"We employ anyone who is 18 years and above. It doesn't matter where you come from," he said.

Workers Leave with More Than a Pay Cheque

Albert Ipolo arrived at the site as an unskilled labourer and left each shift knowing a little more about how water systems work. Under the guidance of experienced plumbers, he learnt to install pipes and read plumbing configurations.

"Today I am confident that I can handle plumbing work on my own," Ipolo said.

He urged other young Kenyans, particularly those struggling to find steady employment, to look into opportunities available through the Affordable Housing Programme.

"There are many opportunities here. Anyone looking for work should come because you not only earn an income but also gain valuable skills that can support you in the future," he said.

For Wafula, the project has done more than put money in her pocket. It has opened a career path she had never mapped out for herself, and given her the confidence that she can compete in a field once entirely unfamiliar to her.

In other news,

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.