By Robert Mutasi 
The World Bank-funded Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Programme Phase Two (KISIP 2) is accelerating efforts to transform informal settlements in Eldoret through infrastructure development, improved access to essential services and initiatives aimed at creating sustainable economic opportunities for residents.
Implemented through the Uasin Gishu County Government, the programme seeks to improve living conditions while promoting socioeconomic inclusion in some of the county’s most underserved neighbourhoods.
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County Director of Housing Beatrice Menjo, who also heads Component Two (Socioeconomic Inclusion), hosted a delegation from the National Programme Coordination Team led by Douglas Kinyua, alongside Veronica Koech of Pamoja Trust, for an assessment of ongoing preparations and proposed interventions.
The delegation visited Mwanzo and Kipkaren informal settlements, where it engaged members of the Settlement Executive Committees (SECs) and Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) to assess community participation and readiness for the programme’s implementation.
Maili Nne and Shauri are also among the settlements benefiting from KISIP 2 interventions.
The four settlements have received infrastructure improvements, including tarmacked roads, street lighting and drainage systems, aimed at enhancing mobility, safety, sanitation and the overall quality of life.
Speaking during the engagement, Menjo thanked the National Programme Coordination Team and Pamoja Trust for their continued technical support, guidance and collaboration.
She said engagement with community structures was essential in ensuring that planned projects addressed the actual needs and priorities of residents.
Uasin Gishu County, she added, remained committed to ensuring KISIP 2 delivers meaningful and lasting improvements in the targeted settlements.
Kinyua commended the county for its preparedness to implement the socioeconomic inclusion component, highlighting the active participation of community structures as an important factor in achieving sustainable outcomes.
Among the proposed interventions in Mwanzo is the development of a multipurpose community centre designed to provide residents with access to skills training, childcare and digital services.
The proposed facility will incorporate an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub, tailoring and dressmaking facilities, sweater-sewing units and a daycare centre.
The plans also include vocational training facilities, improved healthcare and water infrastructure, as well as targeted initiatives to support traders, small-scale businesses and youth empowerment.
These interventions are expected to strengthen household incomes, promote entrepreneurship and equip residents with practical skills that can improve their access to employment and self-employment opportunities.
Additional proposals include solar-powered streetlights, improved security infrastructure, waste recovery facilities, stormwater drainage systems, disaster preparedness measures and environmental conservation initiatives.
Beyond physical infrastructure, KISIP 2 seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic challenges affecting informal settlements, including unemployment, poverty, insecurity, social exclusion and environmental degradation.
The programme places emphasis on community participation, ensuring residents are involved in identifying priorities and shaping interventions intended to improve their neighbourhoods.
Collaboration between the national government, county governments, development partners and community organisations is expected to strengthen project implementation, accountability and the long-term sustainability of the investments.
For Uasin Gishu, the programme comes at a significant time as Eldoret continues to expand its status as a modern city and a major commercial and economic hub in the North Rift region.
Through improved roads, drainage, street lighting, vocational training and enterprise support, KISIP 2 presents an opportunity to ensure that residents of informal settlements also benefit from Eldoret’s urban transformation.
The broader objective is to develop safer, cleaner, more inclusive and resilient neighbourhoods while creating opportunities for residents to participate more actively in the city’s growing economy.
EldoretLeo 
Baraka Simba