State to spend Sh1.2 billion to upgrade seven informal settlements in Kilifi
EMMANUEL MASHA- KNA
The Government has commenced the upgrading of seven informal settlements in Kilifi County under the second Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP 2) at a cost of Sh1.2 billion.
The World Bank-funded infrastructure projects, being implemented in conjunction with the Kilifi County Government, will involve the construction of 13 kilometers of tarmac roads, walkways, drainage systems, streetlights, and 250 toilets, among other facilities.
Kilifi Housing and Urban Development Chief Officer Ali Abubakar said the projects are under way in Kibaoni, Baya Magonzi, Kalolo, Mtaani, and Kisumu Ndogo informal settlements in Kilifi town, as well as Muyeye and Kibokoni M17 in Malindi town.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the ongoing works in Kilifi and Malindi towns, Mr. Abubakar said the project includes a land tenure component, in which land ownership in the targeted settlements will be regularized through the issuance of title deeds in Mazeras and Kibokoni.
He said the project is also constructing business premises through the use of 16 cargo containers with a total of 96 stalls placed in two settlements within Kilifi town, while in Muyeye area of Malindi town, residents will benefit from the construction of 250 toilets.
“Kilifi County has benefited from a total of Sh1.2 billion for the construction of roads complete with drainage facilities and streetlights in Kilifi and Malindi towns and the construction of 250 public toilets in Muyeye area of Malindi town among others,” he said.
The project manager, Engineer Julius Kiplimo, said the projects are at different levels of completion, noting that the average implementation rate is at about 50 per cent and that the works are expected to be completed by end of February 2025.
A section of the res idents, who spoke to journalists during the inspection tour conducted by KISIP officials, said the roads, street lighting and sanitation projects being undertaken would greatly improve their lives and enhance security.
The projects are about 50 per cent complete, ac cording to officials. In Kilifi town, the residents said the value of land within the targeted informal settlements had started going up, with some plots going at as much as Sh4 million up from between Sh600,000.
Mr Jackson Haro said the road and street lighting pro jects would greatly improve communication and security within the settlements, sentiment echoed by Lilian Senti, Hamisi Katambo, Zena Mwadena, and Lawrence Ndegwa.
Mr Julius Ndegwa, a youth, lauded the county and national governments for the projects, saying they had also created job opportunities for the youth. In Muyeye informal settlement of Malindi town, residents said they were elated by the decision to construct toilets in the area, where many answer calls of nature in thickets, which are rapidly being replaced by buildings.
“We used to answer calls of nature at a thicket would reduce such incidents. near the Muyeye Secondary School. When that one was cleared to pave way for houses, we started using a thicket near Ma lindi High School, which is slowly disappearing as well,” said Mariam Salim Makokha, adding that the facilities would benefit more than 1,000 residents.
She said that apart from contracting diseases because of defecating in the open, many women had been abused sexually while defecating in the bushes.
She said she was hopeful that the construction of the toilets within the informal settlement Ms Judith Fadhili, the vice chairperson of the project management committee, said 125 toilets out of the targeted 250 had already been completed, with residents who have not benefited calling on KISIP 2 to extend the service to other areas.
Kadii Katana Baya and Alfred Chogo from Kibokoni settlement said the new road being con structed will ease trans port as well as save the residents from walking in muddy water whenever it rains as had been the case.