National Government to use shs 2.7 trillion on affordable housing in 45 counties.

 The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, housing and Urban development in charge of the state department of Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga Mwaura{L} addressing the press in Kisumu today.With him is Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong'o{C} and his Deputy Dr. Mathews owili

By Dickson Odhiambo.

June 7,2018

National Government to use shs 2.7 trillion on affordable housing in 45 counties.

The National Government will use an estimated shs 2.7 trillion for urban infrastructure in 45 counties across the country in the next five years.

The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, housing and Urban development in charge of the state department of Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga Mwaura says the funding will be used under the program known as the Kenya Urban Support Program.

Addressing the press after paying a courtesy call to Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o at his office today, the PS said the program is purely for urban infrastructure in the 45 counties across the country.

He said Nairobi and Mombasa Counties are not included in the program because the two are in a different program, adding that the remaining 45 are there under the program.

PS Mwaura said the funding has been negotiated with the World Bank so as to be able to support the urban infrastructure in all the 45 counties.

He said the funding will be a grant to the 45 counties, adding they will need not to repay it.

“The national Government has borrowed this money from the world bank and it is a conditional grant given to these counties and part of the condition is to put the Urban and Cities Management Boards,” he said.

He said the other condition is to ensure that the counties have their development plans for the urban areas.

“We have also discussed the issue of affordable Housing and how the two are linked together that is the urban infrastructure and affordable housing and the most important thing is to the need to have proper planning for this,” the PS said.

The PS said there is need for proper planning of the cities and towns with good mobility and infrastructure.

He said human settlement is not just about a house but also about linking where the people live with various economic opportunities.

“Human settlement is not only about housing but also about linking where the people live with various economic activities and ensuring that we put social amenities and infrastructures, schools and hospitals where people live so as to ensure that we reduce the amount of commute that our people have to do everyday so as to be able to access where the do their work, said the PS, adding that affordable housing is one of the Big Four Agenda that President Kenyatta wants to achieve during his second term in office.

The PS said the program aims to work with the counties mentioned so as to ensure there is affordable housing within those counties.

He said in the next two weeks, the process of public participation will kick off about this ambitious project, adding that this is about low cost housing which start from a two bed-roomed house.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o said the county government has welcomed the new initiative, adding that his county government has a bigger much plan for Kisumu residents in terms of affordable housing.

Nyong’o said Kisumu City is very well planned and is ready to accommodate the program on affordable and decent housing.

Nyong’o has hinted that Kisumu County is going to get an estimated shs 780 million for the Kenya urban support program.

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