The national government has injected Sh 2billion in development of Nakuru Slums. Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said the investment will be used in 605 affordable houses in Bondeni and Kivumbini slums.
The two slums have been synonymous with criminal gangs, poor housing and flooding. Dilapidated houses and overcrowding have been the hallmarks of the informal settlements in Nakuru East constituency. Most of the houses here and in the surrounding informal settlement areas of Lake View, Kaloleni, Ojuka, Shauri Yako, Flamingo, Kimathi and Pangani were built more than seven decades ago, mostly with asbestos roofing.
However, the governor said the two areas will undergo a face lift in a grand plan by Nakuru County to upgrade informal settlements as it attains city status. The housing units will consist of 45 one-bedrooms, 180 two-bedrooms and 380 three-bedrooms.
Big Four Agenda
A Sh600 million ultramodern market and a matatu-and-bus terminus are also being built in the neighbourhood. The project is being undertaken by Kings Developers and will be completed in 30 months. State Department of Housing and Urban Development principal secretary Charles Hinga says the project being undertaken on 7.5 acres will spruce up the face of Nakuru town.
“This is the first affordable housing project outside Nairobi where success has been registered. The project will be completed in the next 30 months and sold to residents at a subsidised cost,” said Hinga.
Governor Kinyanjui said his administration, jointly with development partners, including the World Bank, have also kicked off plans to upgrade the town’s informal settlements.
“The project is a godsend, as most low and middle-income earners from the slums will now afford to own a house. This will give dignity to locals mainly from the informal settlement areas,” said Governor Lee Kinyanjui.
“I am optimistic that such projects will help rid the county of informal settlements once complete. This is in line with President Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda of affordable housing. As we await a charter for city status, we aim to partner with development partners and ensure slums are upgraded. We laud the World Bank for the programme, which will have a major transformative impact on informal settlements. The initiative, besides slum upgrading, will also target improvement of drainage infrastructure, waste management, improvement of roads in the slums and installation of lights,” he added.
