The skyline of Iten, globally known as the “Home of Champions,” is beginning to change, not just with rising concrete structures but with a growing wave of economic activity driven by the Iten Affordable Housing Project within Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Once defined mainly by red-dust running tracks and high-altitude training camps, the town is now hosting a major construction hub that is reshaping livelihoods and business activity around it.
The multi-storey housing development has become a magnet for local economic activity, employing hundreds of youths, artisans and women drawn from surrounding communities.
By prioritising local labour, the project has created steady incomes for residents who previously depended on unpredictable casual work.
“We have young men and women here gaining specialised skills in modern construction techniques that will serve them long after these units are complete,” said site clerk Ian Wanga.
But the impact is extending far beyond the construction fence. A vibrant ripple effect is now visible across nearby trading points, where small-scale food vendors have set up stalls to feed the workforce. Their daily sales have become more stable as the number of workers on site grows.
Local hardware shops and transport operators are also recording increased activity, supplying sand, ballast, timber and other materials sourced within the region. For many small businesses, the project has become a consistent source of demand, strengthening household incomes across the local economy.
The ripple effect is also expected to continue after completion. The housing complex includes integrated commercial spaces that will allow local traders to operate within the estate, creating new opportunities for small businesses to grow alongside residents.
Improved infrastructure, such as reliable water supply, electricity and upgraded access roads, is also expected to lift the area’s overall economic profile, making Iten more attractive for investment, tourism and settlement.
For a town already known for producing world-class athletes, the project is adding a new dimension where better housing and improved amenities could help athletes and residents reduce living costs and redirect more resources toward training, education and family welfare.
Speaking during the recently concluded 2nd Africa Urban Forum held in Nairobi, Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki noted that Kenya had made significant progress in addressing housing challenges through deliberate policy action and political will.
According to the DP, about 600,000 Kenyans who were previously unemployed have secured jobs through the initiative, with projections to reach one million beneficiaries in the near future.
As construction progresses toward key milestones, the project is being seen as more than a housing initiative. It is emerging as a catalyst for local enterprise, job creation and long-term economic transformation in Iten.
