(Kakamega) – Kakamega’s informal settlements are undergoing a significant infrastructure transformation, with the ongoing Second Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2) investing Sh268 million to improve living conditions for thousands of residents. The project, backed by the Government of Kenya and county authorities, is being funded by the World Bank, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union (EU).
Five informal settlements in the county are benefiting from the infrastructure upgrades, which aim to enhance basic services, promote sanitation, and improve overall living standards. The settlements—Amalemba and Kambi Somali in Kakamega Municipality, and Mjini, Lukoye, and Shibale in Mumias Municipality—are receiving targeted improvements under the project, with specific allocations for each area.
Amalemba and Kambi Somali settlements in Kakamega Municipality are set to receive a combined Sh116 million in upgrades. Notable works in Amalemba include the paving of 0.848 kilometers of Amina Salim and Abdi Mwewa Streets to bitumen standards, the construction of 1.696 kilometers of drainage, and the installation of a sewer line. The settlement will also see improvements to street lighting, including 25 street lights and one high mast floodlight.
Kambi Somali’s upgrades involve the upgrading of 0.19 kilometers of Kambi Somali road and related drainage works, alongside the construction of a 0.756-kilometer sewer line. These projects aim to address the pressing infrastructure needs that have long affected these communities.
In Mumias, Mjini, Lukoye, and Shibale settlements are benefiting from a further Sh152 million in investments. Mjini will see 0.944 kilometers of Masanga and Masanga Link roads upgraded to bitumen standard, as well as the construction of drainage and installation of street lights. Additionally, Mjini will have piped water connected to 100 households, a crucial step in addressing water shortages.
Shibale will benefit from 0.523 kilometers of road upgrades, alongside 2.092 kilometers of drainage, and the construction of five water kiosks to serve residents. Lukoye will see similar road and drainage upgrades, along with the installation of solar-powered street lights to enhance security.
As part of the broader infrastructure improvements, Amalemba, Mjini, and Lukoye will also see the installation of 47 solar street lights, while Kambi Somali, Mjini, and Lukoye will receive three high mast floodlights. These measures are part of the ongoing efforts to improve security and ensure better access to essential services.
The project’s completion is expected in stages, with contractors aiming to finish the Mumias settlements by January 24, 2025, and Kakamega Municipality projects by May 2025. While ongoing rainfall has posed challenges to construction schedules, KISIP Kakamega County Coordinator, Kelvin Marangu, assured that efforts are being made to make up for lost time by working longer hours during the dry months of December and January.
In Amalemba, where over 3,000 people in 110 households reside, residents are looking forward to improved sanitation as the project will extend the sewer line to all households, which currently only 2% are connected to. Ramadhan Sakali, Chairman of the Amalemba Settlement Executive Committee (SEC), also mentioned plans for a market that will stimulate business and improve income for residents once the infrastructure work is completed.
Kelvin Marangu further noted that about 50,000 people are benefiting from the KISIP project through direct employment in construction and indirectly through improved infrastructure. Additionally, the project engages communities through their representatives in the Settlement Executive Committee (SEC) and the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC), ensuring that local interests are protected and that community members are prioritized for employment.
Shakir Adan, the Kakamega County Chief Officer for Urban Development and Housing, emphasized the project’s role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in improving living standards and access to essential services. He expressed confidence that the improvements would significantly enhance urban living in Kakamega, positioning the county as a model for future urban development.