Door factory launches with eye on affordable housing contracts

A company with Estonian links is eyeing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda projects with the launch of a Sh240 million door manufacturing plant.

The 64Door Factory commissioned its plant in Nairobi’s Industrial Area and hopes to supply doors to some affordable housing developments that will be put up under the Government programme.

“This product will buttress the twin pillars of housing and manufacturing. By manufacturing in the country, the company will facilitate technology transfer and human capital foundation through skills transfers to local staff,” said Nyamu Wanyoike a director at the firm.

He said the project is a partnership between private sector players from Kenya and Estonia.

The factory has capacity to produce 50,000 doors annually and will employ 100 people on a full-time basis. The company said it would source most materials locally.

At the same time, the Transport and Housing ministry has started implementation of the affordable housing project in earnest with commencement of construction at the Park Road Estate in Ngara.

Housing Secretary Patrick Bucha, who spoke when launching the door factory, said the ministry had on Tuesday handed over 7.9 acres of land on which the estate will stand to the Chinese firm contracted to undertake the project.

China State Construction Engineering will build 1,370 units at a cost of Sh4.9 billion, which are expected to be completed in the next two years.

The firm was selected last year to undertake the project and kick start Uhuru’s Big Four Agenda.