Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga says the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP) is a catalyst that is transforming livelihoods of low-income earners in the county.
Kahiga said the World Bank-funded program, now in its second phase, has greatly improved the landscape of many informal settlements in various parts of Nyeri, a key cornerstone of economic and social growth.
The Sh21 billion program is currently in its second phase of implementation in 23 counties.
It is being undertaken by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development with Sh19.3 billion funding from the International Development Association.
The Kenyan government has allocated a total of Sh1.93 billion into the multibillion program.
Overall, a total of 81 informal settlements in 23 counties have been targeted for improvement by the lapse of the second phase of KISIP this year.
Nyeri is among 20 counties in the country that are set to benefit from consulting services from the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Program II (KISIP II) to facilitate the development of slum upgrading and prevention strategies.
“The Second Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Program (KISIP II), funded by the World Bank in collaboration with the national government and the County Government of Nyeri, is one of the flagship programs whose impact is already being felt and enjoyed by the Nyeri beneficiaries,” posted the governor on his official Facebook page.
“This afternoon, accompanied by Deputy Governor H.E. David Kinaniri, I was taken on a guided tour of the KISIP II infrastructure projects being implemented in the Kiamwathi, Chorong’i, and Mweiga informal settlements.”
The KISIP II projects are being implemented within five informal settlements: Kiamwathi and Chorong’i (Ruring’u ward), Kiawara (Rware ward), Mweiga ward, and Ihwagi in Iria-ini ward.
Kahiga also disclosed that besides improving the public physical infrastructures, the program has also seen the locals benefit directly, including being hired as casuals at construction sites.
In addition, erection of high mast lights has helped improve security in all the five settlements under the KISIP II Small Works Program.
“These settlements are undergoing revamping under Main Works under the KISIP II component 1.2, infrastructure upgrading for infrastructure face-lifting. These settlements are set to benefit from significant infrastructure upgrades under the program, including the construction of tarmac roads with integrated drainage systems, the installation of street lighting, footpaths, and high masts, improved sewer and water connections, and the installation of a dumpster, among others,” he added.
Under KISIP 1, a total of 700 title deeds were also issued to residents of Ihwagi, Miiri, Ngorano, Gikaibei, Githeri, Kiaruhiu, Mweiga, Kiamwathia, and Ndumaini.
The governor announced that plans were under way to issue title deeds to residents of Gitunduti and Ndumanu informal settlements in Magutu ward, Mathira East sub-county.
KISIP was started in 2011 to improve the living conditions in informal dwellings in 15 urban centers in Kenya and provide security of tenure to residents of those settlements.
It was instituted under the Ministry of Land, Housing, and Urban Development in the Slum Upgrading department with the objective of improving living conditions in the selected settlements.
Among the officials who had accompanied Kahiga were Lands CECM Simon Gachunia, together with KISIP II County Project Coordinator Beatrice Koech and Chief of Staff Paul Wambugu.
By Samuel Maina
