State Allocates Sh1.2 Billion to Upgrade Seven Informal Settlements in Kilifi
The national government has begun a major infrastructure upgrade across seven informal settlements in Kilifi County, committing Sh1.2 billion under the second phase of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP 2). The World Bank-supported initiative, implemented jointly with the Kilifi County Government, aims to improve living conditions through new tarmac roads, walkways, drainage systems, street lighting and public sanitation facilities. Officials say the works are already underway in settlements within Kilifi and Malindi towns, marking one of the largest urban transformation efforts in the coastal region.
During an inspection tour of the ongoing projects, Kilifi Housing and Urban Development Chief Officer Ali Abubakar confirmed that the upgrades cover Kibaoni, Baya Magonzi, Kalolo, Mtaani and Kisumu Ndogo in Kilifi town, as well as Muyeye and Kibokoni M17 in Malindi. The project also includes a land-tenure programme to regularise ownership by issuing title deeds in areas such as Mazeras and Kibokoni. In addition to roads and drainage, KISIP 2 is constructing 96 business stalls using refurbished cargo containers, and 250 public toilets in Muyeye—an area where open defecation has long posed public health and safety concerns.
Project manager Eng. Julius Kiplimo said the works are at an average completion rate of about 50 per cent, with the final phase expected to conclude by the end of February 2025. Residents who spoke during the inspection welcomed the improvements, noting visible changes in security, mobility and property value. In Kilifi town, land prices in upgraded settlements have already surged, with some plots rising from about Sh600,000 to as high as Sh4 million. Young people have also benefited from short-term jobs created through the construction works.
In Muyeye, residents expressed relief over the sanitation project, saying the new facilities will reduce disease outbreaks and protect vulnerable groups—especially women—who previously relied on nearby thickets to relieve themselves. Community leaders urged the government to expand the programme to more neighbourhoods still lacking proper services. Officials say once completed, the upgrades will drastically improve living standards, strengthen economic activity and support long-term urban planning efforts across Kilifi County.