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Lukenya investor to put up Sh340m student hostels

daystar

Daystar University campus. A proposed housing development is targeting the student population. file photo | nmg

An investor is building Sh340 million hostel blocks at Lukenya in Machakos County to host the growing university population in the area.

In an application to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), developer Dominic Mwangi disclosed he planned to put up two blocks of four floors each.

They will have 215 units comprising 114 single ensuite rooms, 59 studio apartments and 42 one-bedroom apartments.

“The proposed project comes as a timely venture to cater for the existing accommodation deficit for student accommodation and specifically targets students from Daystar University,” says the study.

The developer said the development will generate jobs for artisans, security guards as well as indirect jobs for food vendors and transporters hauling in materials. It will also provide income for building material suppliers.

READ: The dreamer who founded Daystar

The developer has also applied for a licence to drill a borehole within the site, thereby easing water shortage challenges in the dry area.

The area, besides Daystar, hosts the four-year-old Lukenya University currently hosting 1,000 students on the 1,600-acre land. Daystar’s main Athi River campus has 2,000 students on its 300 acre, but a lot of students are hosted by private hostels.

Nema is seeking comments from the public, saying this will help reach an informed decision on the application.