Gachagua says the future is urban and Kenya is focused on slum upgrading.


Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that the World Bank has approved $350 million (Sh45 billion) for Phase 11 of Kenya Urban Support Programme.

Speaking during the Kenya Urban Forum in Naivasha, the DP said the project is set to benefit 77 municipalities in 45 counties and two special refugee municipalities - Kakuma and Dadaab.

"We appreciate the partnership and milestones made in urban governance, infrastructure development and even capacity building achieved with the support of the World Bank, UN Habitat, French Development Agency (AFD), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and other development partners," he said.

"The money is for improving urban infrastructure and better service provision."
Gachagua noted that the future is urban and Kenya is focused on slum upgrading, providing affordable houses to dignify hundreds of people living in deplorable conditions and give them access to clean water and better sanitation.

"Kenya Kwanza Administration is focused on fulfilling the promise of affordable and decent housing for the people in need of better places to live in," he added.
On job opportunities, the DP echoed the words of his boss President WIlliam Ruto saying implementation of the housing programme will lead to creation of more job opportunities for the youth.

"The resolutions of this forum speak to the Kenya Kwanza Plan Pillar of dignifying families through decent and Affordable Housing which will help us grow economically through jobs created in the material and service supply chains. Ultimately, this will reduce poverty, especially, among the unemployed youth," he said.