Kiambu sets aside Sh153m for Thika town upgrading
James Wakahiu, Mathew Ndung’u and Oliver Musembi
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro will next month officially launch a Sh153 million roads re-carpeting and street lighting project on streets within Thika Central Business District (CBD).
Speaking in Kiandutu slums, the governor acknowledged the poor state of the roads and promised to help the town regain its lost glory.
Nyoro was accompanied by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga Mwaura, on a tour to ascertain the impact of the Kazi Mtaani National Hygiene Programme
The governor thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for choosing Kiambu county to be among the first eight beneficiaries of the Kazi Mtaani Programme and promised to expand this national government’s initiative by involving more youth from the other areas of the town in similar activities.
“As a county, we will also look for more youth who will help us in clean up other areas of the town.
We will also boost the national government’s initiative through addition of more toilets in Kiandutu so as to improve the sanitation, among other programmes,” he said.
Nyoro promised that, beginning the next Financial Year (June 2020), the county government would employ more people in a bid to improve and enhance service delivery to the people of Kiambu.
PS Hinga said the national government was about to begin the second phase of the Kazi Mtaani National Hygiene Programme.
The project will include improvement of road infrastructure, construction of toilets, improvement of bus termini, markets and schools, among other intensive activities.
“Phase One of this programme is in 28 informal settlements in eight counties that are most hit by the Covid-19 restrictions. Currently, the programme has employed 26,114 youth,” said the PS.
Hinga added that out of the Sh354 million set aside for the project, Sh300 million has been allocated for wages with the balance of Sh54 million going to programmes such as the production of facemasks by slum youth. Present at the occasion was Kiambu County Commissioner, Wilson Wanyanga.
