By KISIP2 Reporter
The World Bank has lauded the ongoing slum upgrading works which is taking shape in Mjini and Landi Matope informal settlements scheme in Bungoma County.
Speaking during an Implementation Support Mission on Thursday during the site inspection tour of ongoing infrastructural works, the World Bank Representative and the KISIP2 National Project Coordinator George Arwa, made the visit to appraise itself with the ongoing works.
The team was welcomed by Bungoma deputy governor Pst Janepher Mbatiany who lauded them for choosing to upgrade the region’s key informal settlement schemes to better the lives of its inhabitants.
“KISIP’s intervention in Bungoma County is a crucial step towards addressing the challenges faced by informal settlements, promoting social inclusion, and contributing to the national agenda of improving urban areas across Kenya,” she stated.
Mbatiany lauded the transformative work being undertaken by KISIP2 spearheading efforts to improve the livelihoods of residents in informal settlements.
The tour was also attended by the County Project Coordination Team led by the CECM Eng. Harbert Kibunguchy, Housing Chief Officer C.P.A Dr.Rashid Fwamba and the County Coordinator Plan.Wellington Sindani among other key stakeholders including Christine Simiyu County Director Housing among others.
KISIP 2 is a transformative project aimed at improving access to essential services and enhancing the living conditions within Kenya’s urban informal settlements through improved access to clean water, enhancing road infrastructure, proper management of waste and the installation of street and floodlights to help end insecurity.
“These transformations we are seeing is not only aimed to make the environment more habitable but also create an enabling environment for economic activities, contributing to the local economy’s growth,” the Mission noted.
This project is spearheaded by the Government of Kenya through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with county governments and is funded by the World Bank and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and lately the European Union.
Urban informal settlements in Kenya often face critical challenges, including overcrowding, lack of essential services, insecure land tenure, and inadequate housing. These conditions contribute to a cycle of poverty and vulnerability that limits the opportunities available to residents.
KISIP 2 aims to break this cycle by creating a framework where basic services are accessible, and residents can enjoy improved living conditions. The project emphasizes a participatory approach, where communities are involved in identifying their needs and priorities.
