Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai wants the state to relocate Kitui Main GK prison to a rural area in Kanyonyoo to free up space for the expansion of the town.
The UDA legislator further argued that the move would also create space for the government’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Mbai lamented that the county risks being locked out of President William Ruto's affordable housing initiative due to a lack of public land within the town.
He said that the move to relocate the GK prison, currently located in the town centre, would be a game-changer for South Eastern Kenya County.
Kitui town is characterised by heavy congestion, a rapidly growing population, and diminishing land sizes within the CBD, making it impossible for both the county and national governments to initiate development projects.
In a press briefing outside Kitui Main GK prison, Mbai urged the President to issue a directive requiring the Ministry of Interior-State Department of Correctional Services to begin relocating the prison.
"The affordable housing project has not kicked off in Kitui like other counties, which is why we have suggested relocating our GK prison, which sits on over 1,000 acres of land, to a safe location in Kanyonyoo, which is also public land," said Mbai.
"We urge the President to tour Kitui and lay the foundation stone for the affordable housing project within GK prison land so that we are not left behind by other counties," added Mbai.
The second term MP noted that developing affordable housing projects on GK prison land would be a sure way of expanding the economic fortunes of the town.
"Our police officers and other government officers, as well as ordinary citizens in Kitui, will have an opportunity to own houses within the town," added Mbai.
He asked Ruto to visit Kitui County and hold a harambee for mama mbogas and boda boda operators to boost their businesses in preparation for owning houses within the proposed affordable housing project.