Bungoma Secures Sh466 Million for Informal Settlements Upgrade

Bungoma County is set to transform living conditions in its informal settlements following the approval of a Sh466 million upgrade project under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KIPIS). The initiative targets Landi Matope in Chwele and Mjini in Bungoma town, focusing on critical infrastructure improvements such as road upgrades, sewer line repairs, street lighting, and expanded access to clean water. The project is a collaborative effort involving the Kenyan government, World Bank, Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The project builds on the country’s longstanding commitment to slum upgrading, tracing back to the Kenya National Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP) initiated in 2005. KIPIS seeks to complement previous efforts by addressing basic service provision and improving tenure security for residents. With Sh70 million earmarked for street lighting and Sh380 million for drainage and road repairs, the county government aims to provide residents with safer, healthier, and more accessible environments. Governor Kenneth Lusaka emphasized that these interventions align with broader housing initiatives, including the construction of low-cost homes in Musikoma, and will significantly uplift residents’ livelihoods.
Community and government stakeholders have welcomed the project, noting its potential to improve health, safety, and socioeconomic opportunities. Lusaka expressed confidence that the upgraded settlements would encourage economic activity while ensuring residents enjoy better living standards. Looking ahead, the success of KIPIS in Bungoma is expected to serve as a model for informal settlement improvement across Western Kenya, demonstrating how strategic infrastructure investment and collaboration with international partners can sustainably enhance urban living conditions.