State Launches Sh1.2 Billion Upgrade of Seven Informal Settlements in Kilifi
The government has embarked on a major Sh1.2 billion upgrade of seven informal settlements in Kilifi County under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project Phase Two (KISIP 2), marking one of the largest recent investments in local urban infrastructure. The World Bank–funded initiative, implemented jointly with the Kilifi County Government, is set to deliver new roads, modern drainage systems, street lighting, and improved sanitation facilities across Kilifi and Malindi towns. According to the project team, construction works are progressing steadily and are now about 50 percent complete, with full completion expected by February 2025. Kilifi Housing and Urban Development Chief Officer, Ali Abubakar, described the project as a transformative intervention targeting long-neglected settlements and improving living conditions for thousands of residents.
The upgrades span several settlements, including Kibaoni, Baya Magonzi, Kalolo, Mtaani, and Kisumu Ndogo in Kilifi town, and Muyeye and Kibokoni M17 in Malindi. The works include 13 kilometres of tarmac roads, walkways, streetlights, and a comprehensive drainage network designed to ease flooding and enhance mobility. In addition, the project features a significant sanitation component, highlighted by the construction of 250 modern toilets in Muyeye, where open defecation has long been a challenge due to inadequate facilities. The programme also incorporates a land tenure process aimed at regularising property ownership in selected areas like Mazeras and Kibokoni through the issuance of title deeds. Project Manager Engineer Julius Kiplimo noted that beyond physical infrastructure, KISIP 2 is also supporting local economic growth by developing new commercial stalls using 16 refurbished cargo containers, creating spaces for small businesses within the settlements.
Residents have welcomed the initiative, saying it has already begun to improve their lives even before completion. Those living in Kilifi town report increased security due to the installation of streetlights and a sharp rise in land value as improved roads make the settlements more accessible. Youths engaged in the construction works have also praised the project for creating new job opportunities. In Malindi’s Muyeye settlement, community members—particularly women—expressed relief that the new toilets would end years of unsafe and unhygienic practices that exposed them to disease and sexual violence. Local leaders and residents are now urging the national and county governments to extend similar infrastructure investments to more settlements, hopeful that the ongoing works signal the beginning of long-term improvements in urban living conditions across Kilifi County.