Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson K. Mandago EGH, Thursday hosted a delegation from ACAL consulting at his offices. The team is in the county to hold meetings in collaboration with the County Department of Lands, Housing and Urban Planning for purposes of assessing Uasin Gishu’s progress in the implementation of the World Bank Funded Kenya Urban Support Program.
“We are glad to host you and show you our progress especially because we have no reason not to have achieved KUSP targets”, Mandago said. He was responding to ACAL Consulting’s James Kitonga on the importance of meeting UIG’s minimum conditions.
The evaluation is meant to confirm if Uasin Gishu county has met the conditions set for a county to qualify for Urban Institutional Grants (IUG) and Urban Development Grants (UDG).
Amongst the conditions are the establishment of Municipality boards, preparation of County Urban Institutional Development Strategy as well as the Annual County Urban Institutional Development Plan Budget for the Financial year 2019/20.
The county boss said that these conditions have been met in due time and requested the Department of planning to avail the documents and reports for scrutiny.
“I urge the World Bank to work more with the county assembly through the relevant committees in order to incresensitizationtion and outreach on the importance of establishment of these urban institutions,” said Mandago.
Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno who was in meeting, welcomed the assessment terming it as an important tool in counter-checking Uasin Gishu’s progress in urban development.
The County Executive in charge of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Eng Nelson Maritim also present, expressed optimism that Uasin Gishu is set to receive the funding as his department had ensured all requirements had been met.
According to the County Government Act of 2012, any urban area that is designated as a county capital, irrespective of its population, is granted municipal status.
In the Financial year 2019/20, Eleven counties are set to receive these grants through the Kenya Urban Support Program. Uasin Gishu leads other counties in taking steps to establish Municipalities. These include Kitui, Kisii, Meru, Makueni, Isiolo, Garissa, Mandera, Kirinyaga, and Bomet.
Municipalities, which will receive these grants include Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kikuyu, Ruiru, Kangundo-Tala, Naivasha, Thika, Machakos and Kitale. Others are Mavoko, Kericho, Vihiga, Nyeri, Malindi, Thika, Garissa, Karuri, Kitui and Ngong.
Other Officers present in the meeting included Economic Advisor Jonathan Tuwei, Chief Officer Planning and Urban Development Kenneth Mbeka, CO Lands Ruth Cheleshaw, Joseph Maritim Youth & Sports, and their transport counterpart Barnabas Too. Elders Town Manager Tito Kioyet.
From Uasin Gishu the assessment team heads to Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties.
