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(Special for CAFS) Kenya's slum upgrading projects on course: official

Xinhua, April 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government has partnered with development partners and industries to accelerate the implementation of slum upgrading projects across the country, officials said on Monday.

Fred Matiang'i, the acting Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development, said a nationwide slum upgrading program will be implemented through a public-private partnership financing model.

"We are hopeful that by 2017, a comprehensive upgrading of three major informal settlements in Nairobi will be completed. There will a gradual implementation of slum upgrading programs in rural towns countrywide," he said.

Kenya is among African countries that have witnessed a rural to urban influx that is to blame for mushrooming informal settlements in major cities.

According to government statistics, an estimated 65 percent of the population in Nairobi lives in deplorable conditions in shanties.

Matiang'i, who was speaking in Nairobi ahead of the UN-Habitat Governing Council to be held in Nairobi from April 17-23, regretted that informal settlements have become bleeding grounds for crime and infectious diseases.

"We have set aside adequate resources to upgrade slums and improve the quality of life among citizens. The government is focusing on land tenure and development of social amenities in the informal settlements," Matiang`i said.

Kenya is signatory to global instruments that advocate for sustainable urbanization. Matiang'i noted that slum upgrading lies at the heart of the ruling coalition's manifesto to transform urban livelihoods through provision of critical services like education, health, water and sanitation.

"We have already formed a robust partnership with industry to set up new low-cost housing units for Nairobi in the next two months. County governments are part of this slum upgrading initiative," said Matiang'i.

The Kenyan government has earmarked resources to reinvent urban transport and management of waste in cities. Matiang'i said the implementation of a new urban transport master-plan will end traffic gridlock that is to blame for a huge economic loss and air pollution.

"Efficient transport system and proper waste management will make our cities livable. We are developing new feeder roads to connect residential and business premises," he said. Endi