Uhuru launches Kisumu's Nyalenda slum upgrading programme

Nyalenda slums in Kisumu is set for a major facelift following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s launch of a youth empowerment and slum upgrading project.

Speaking during the launch yesterday, the President said the slum upgrading project will provide jobs for 4,000 youth from the slum.

The youth will be engaged in clean-ups and building of toilets, medical clinics and police posts.

“We have decided the best way to reduce poverty is to take development to the citizens wherever they are,” President Uhuru said.

He was in Kisumu to open the second Devolution Conference.

Uhuru said the government is committed to ensuring equitable development in informal settlements and other parts of the country.

The President said the upgrading of Nyalenda slum paves the way for the improvement of the remaining Kisumu's three informal settlements of Manyatta, Obunga and Nyawita.

He urged the youth who will benefit from the project to form a savings and credit co-operatives to save some of their earnings. The project will be implemented by the Devolution ministry through the National Youth Service.

Citing the ongoing Kibera slum upgrading project, the President urged Nyalenda beneficiaries to emulate their Kibera counterparts who have saved up to Sh100 million, which they will use as start-up capital for their businesses when the project ends.

He said the project targets construction of 23 medical clinics, 23 toilets and 23 police posts as well as a road to open up the slum.

“This project is a testimony of the cooperation between the county and national governments. This is the partnership that we want to cultivate,” the President said.

He urged the Kisumu government to complement the national government’s initiative to create employment for the youth and improve the lives of citizens by ensuring equity in implementation of development projects.

“We believe Kenya is one and we want development to reach every part of the country,” Uhuru said

“We cannot do that without going to where the citizens live.”

The President said the government is determined to extend the slum upgrading programme to all parts of the country.