This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
Nairobi Slum Upgrades: Korogocho and Mathare Face-Lift Plans Unveiled ¶
July 7, 2020
Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) Director General Mohammed Badi has announced plans to upgrade Korogocho and Mathare slums, declaring them special planning areas to pave the way for harmonized development standards.
According to Badi, the move is in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive to NMS in March to undertake slum upgrading initiatives in the Metropolitan Area.
Already, Mukuru and Kibra informal settlements have been declared special planning areas, with all development plans in the two slum areas suspended for a period of two years.
"This will ensure that any future developments will be undertaken under a planning framework," said Badi.
The plan involves the formulation of harmonized standards and guidelines for buildings and other forms of development in the two areas.
Already, the Mukuru informal settlement renewal programme is well underway, with the Special Planning Area framework for the area extended for a further two-year period.
The programme, which was declared a special planning area by Nairobi County government in 2018, aims to construct roads and better houses as part of the regeneration of a number of informal settlements in the county.
A total of Sh56 million was set aside for the pilot programme, with Sh20 million allocated for planning facilitation and a further Sh36 million for land surveying, registration, roads, and sewers.
Similarly, Kibra informal settlement was declared a Special Planning Area under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act on May 26, 2020, to pave the way for its planning.
