Housing Committee Alarmed By Acute Shortage of Technical Staff at State Department of Public Works
The State Department for Public Works is facing an acute shortage of technical staff, the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning, and Public Works chaired by Hon. Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr) heard today.
Principal Secretary Joel Arumonyang, who appeared before the Committee to shed light on various affordable housing projects, emphasized that the scarcity of technical personnel has created challenges in fulfilling the department’s responsibilities.
“Despite the heavy workload, as a Department , we currently have less than 400 technical staff. The limited number of architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and other professionals has hindered our ability to provide effective service,” stated Arumonyang.
The revelation alarmed the legislators , prompting Hon. Ngeno to question how a vital Department tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Affordable Housing Project, a key government agenda, could face such staffing shortages.
“President William Ruto’s ambitious affordable housing plan aims to deliver 200,000 units annually. This vision cannot be realized if the Department responsible for maintaining industry standards and quality, faces such a severe staff shortage,” held Hon. Ngeno.
The Committee Chairperson directed PS Arumonyang to present a comprehensive report detailing the staffing requirements of the institution and any additional support needed to ensure the fulfillment of their mandate.
“We are fully committed to assisting the department in achieving its objectives. It is essential for public work staff to ensure that all government projects adhere to professional standards, from design to completion,” explained Hon. Ngeno.
Earlier, concerns were raised by Committee Members, after it emerged that Kshs.218.7 million was spent to conduct repairs and renovations at the Parkroad Affordable Housing Project in Nairobi County.
PS Arumonyang however addressed these concerns, clarifying that his officers were not involved in the initial design, drawing approval, or construction process, revealing that their role was only limited to certifying completion.
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