BY TONY WAFULA
Some 11,000 people residing in informal settlements in Bungoma are set to benefit from a Sh378 million World Bank project financed under the second phase of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP2).
Two key settlements — Mjini (in Bungoma town) and Landi Matope (Chwele market) —are undergoing significant upgrades, with Mjini, home to 6,597 residents, and Landi Matope with a population of 4,761people being earmarked. The projects are expected to improve quality of life and enhance security in the areas.
The programme is spearheaded by the State Department of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with county governments and is financed by the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Union.
Together, the two settlements cover 33.72km (Mjini 7.52km and Landi Matope 26.2km) and house 11,358 people in total.
Extensive works began on August 23, 2024. In Landi Matope, a 2.25-km road is under construction, along with 2.25km of footpaths, drainage systems, and the installation of 22 streetlights.
Mjini will benefit from a 1.59-km road, 1.59km of footpaths, 1.85km of drainage, a 12.7km water supply line, a 1.15km sanitation system, nine streetlights, and the rehabilitation of a high mast floodlight.
The installation of floodlights was necessitated by high crime rates in slum areas.
The upgrades in Landi Matope are expected to be completed by June 2025, depending on weather conditions, Lusaka said.
KISIP2’s ongoing works aim to break the cycle of poverty by addressing the root challenges of overcrowding, lack of essential services and insecure land tenure in informal settlements.
Area Governor Kenneth Lusaka lauded the projects for their potential to improve livelihoods, noting that they will not only make the environment more habitable but also create an enabling environment for economic activities, contributing to the growth of the local economy.
Lusaka added that the projects focus on enhancing living conditions in urban informal settlements through improved access to clean water, upgraded road infrastructure, proper waste management, and the installation of street and floodlights to address insecurity.
“Improved lighting will help end insecurity and allow residents to thrive in their daily activities,” the governor said.
The county government has also funded the installation of transformers in every ward to ensure electricity access for local households.
WHAT IS KISIP2?
KISIP 2 is an $165 million Investment Project Financing project, with $ 150 million credit provided by the International Development Association (IDA). It is being implemented through institutional arrangements at both national and county levels (23 counties).
The Kenyan government is expected to contribute counterpart funding of an equivalent of $15 million. The five-year project is expected to close in 2026.
The overall objective of KISIP2 is “to improve access to basic services and land tenure security of residents in participating urban informal settlements and strengthen institutional capacity for slum upgrading in Kenya”.
Governor Lusaka also announced additional measures to improve infrastructure and services in Bungoma County.
In a separate development initiative, Lusaka announced that the construction of a modern market in Chwele has been awarded to a contractor at a cost of Sh345 million.
“This market will boost trade and provide a conducive environment for our traders, further enhancing the local economy,” he added.
