Councils to get Sh24bn to upgrade slum areas

By Nation Correspondent
Posted Tuesday, August 10 2010 at 21:00

Local authorities will benefit from a Sh24 billion boost to upgrade slums.

The cash will come from the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency under the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvements Programme.

The City Council of Nairobi is among 15 municipalities that will benefit. It approved the plan during a full council meeting held yesterday at City Hall.

Planning director Tom Odongo said making a resolution was the first step towards creating a policy for the various slums in the city and start getting funds.

“The programme is spread over the next five years,” he added.

The money will be used to finance community efforts, identification and demarcation of settlement boundaries as well as preparation of physical development plans.

In the Nairobi meeting, the council resolved to form a six-member ad hoc team mainly of councillors from Kibera, Mathare and Mukuru slums.

Councillor Alex ole Magelo proposed the project and was seconded by George Theuri (Umoja ward), both of PNU.

Disconnection of phone

This would come to empower the already existing Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme in Kibera spearheaded by the Housing ministry.

At the same time Mayor Geophrey Majiwa kicked treasurer John Ngugi out of the meeting over the disconnection of his telephone lines over a huge outstanding bill.