By Felix Njenga
The informal settlement within Kiambu County is set for upgrade after the State department of housing and urban development contracted South Consulting Africa Limited to develop slum upgrading and prevention strategy for the county.
The upgrade, which is under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project-II (KISIP-II) programme has selected Umoja settlements in Ruai, Kiangombe settlement in Thika Municipality, and Kiandutu settlement in Thika.
This will involve the provision of Title Deeds, drainage, floodlights installation, provision of street lights, laying of sewerage lines and water and electricity connectivity among others.
Julius Mwololo, Kiambu County KISIP 2 Coordinator, while welcoming the South Consulting Africa Ltd team emphasized the county’s unwavering support for the life-changing initiative for informal settlers.
Mwololo highlighted the importance of a strategy grounded in the needs and voices of Kiambu’s residents.
“Our approach must be community-inclusive, ensuring that the strategy truly reflects the unique challenges and aspirations of our people. By engaging directly with our communities, we can develop solutions that not only address their current needs but also pave the way for a more resilient community,” Mwololo said.
He noted that they are committed to developing strategies that will address both slum upgrading and prevention.
“This approach will enable us to create actionable plans, estimate the required financing, and integrate these plans into key county documents like the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) for effective budgeting and resource allocation from development partners,” he said
Gabriel Muli, Deputy Director of the Slum Upgrading Department from the KISIP 2 National Project Coordination Team (NPCT), stressed the necessity for customized solutions to address the unique needs of Kiambu County.
“Each county has distinct characteristics. The strategies we will develop here will be tailored specifically to Kiambu’s needs, ensuring that our solutions are both relevant and effective in addressing the unique challenges faced by the residents,“Muli said.
Musyimi Mbathi representative South Consulting Africa Ltd emphasized the importance of the critical document and reiterated the pressing issue of emerging vertical slum expansion.
Mbathi highlighted the need for an actionable strategy to address slum expansion both in counties and across Kenya.
“Slum upgrading and prevention are crucial for ensuring that urban growth is sustainable and beneficial for all residents,” Mbathi said.
He said that the strategy will involve a thorough situational analysis, extensive field studies, and input from residents and leaders to create an actionable plan for slum upgrading and prevention.
The KISIP project is a national government project that was launched back in 2011 to improve the living conditions in informal settlements in selected urban centers and is instituted under the Ministry of Land, Housing, and Urban Development in the Slum Upgrading department.
This initiative is bolstered by the KISIP 2’s Institutional Capacity Development Component and receives support from major stakeholders, including the Government of Kenya, the World Bank, the European Union, and AFD France
Martin Masinde