President William Ruto has announced a Sh46.5 billion funding support from the World Bank for the second phase of the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), launched on Tuesday. The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of urban areas by improving settlement infrastructure and will be implemented in 77 municipalities across 45 counties.
President Ruto stated that the programme aligns with his administration’s affordable housing project, focusing on improving infrastructure, storm water management, and sanitation. He highlighted the importance of decongesting major cities by creating real alternative centres for growth in counties.
With 1410 informal settlements in Kenya lacking proper road networks, sanitation, and electricity, the programme aims to address these challenges. President Ruto urged county governments to utilize the funds responsibly for maximum benefit, prioritizing strategies to increase their own revenue sources.
He called for greater allocation of land to urban development initiatives, as urban centres contribute over 70 percent of the nation’s GDP. The World Bank’s funding is crucial for sustainable urban development financing, but it is a loan that must be repaid.
The government has identified 300 urban areas, with 220 requiring development investment to achieve urbanization policy objectives. The programme will oversee infrastructure expansion, connectivity enhancement, accessibility improvement, and safety and security enhancement in the 45 benefiting counties.
Additionally, the programme aims to integrate refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab camps in Turkana and Garissa counties with host communities under the government’s Shirika plan. This integration will enhance the livelihoods of communities in the refugee camps, providing access to good road networks and improved water and sanitation services.
The first phase of the KUSP programme covered 59 municipalities across the country.
