- By Maurice Alal, API Kenya
The government has embarked on national slum upgrading and prevention policy to improve the livelihoods of 5.4 million Kenyans in slums and informal settlements.
The policy requires adequate housing for Kenyans as in the constitution to facilitate the realization of the Vision 2030 which aspires for a slum free nation.
Currently it is estimated that more than 34% of Kenyan’s total population lives in urban areas with this number projected to hit 63% by 2030 in not well addressed.
It s also estimated that 71% of the urban population lives in slums and are facing various challenges such as social, political and economic exclusion.
Other vital problems faced by slum dwellers include, housing, resource allocation, deprivation marginalization, employment or underemployment, health and insecurity among others.
According to Mutuva Mutisia who represented the Director of Slum Upgrading Department, Charles Shikuku the slum agenda is aimed to arrest the situation from escalating beyond manageable proportions especially where there is no slum with devolution in place.
“We can no longer ignore the urbanization of poverty and growth of slums in effort to address city and town developments,” said Mutuva adding this is the way to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for significant portion of the population by 2015.
He also expressed the risk of massive social deprivation and exclusion with all of its attendant consequences for peace, social stability and security.
Mutuva made the remarks during a formulation of slum prevention and upgrading policy forum held in Kisumu yesterday adding that the government needs a comprehensive policy to address the challenges facing our rapidly growing towns and urban centres.
This, he said have resulted in proliferation of slums and informal settlements that will greatly affect the housing flagship projects in Vision 2030.
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