Nakuru County Government has partnered with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation to make the newest city livable, prosperous, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient through proper planning in line with Vision 2050.
In an interview with KNA, the County Chief Officer for Urban Deployment, Kamau Kuria, said the team has been engaging in the discourse around Urban Sustainability, Resilience, Waste Management, and Urban Opportunities.
He said in their commitment to achieving sustainability, the county government has commissioned three municipalities, three more are on the roadmap, and six townships to reduce the pressure on limited resources in the city.
Kuria said they have proposed the construction of 120 markets to create more business opportunities for residents across the county and decongest the overwhelmed city.
Nakuru City was chartered in December 2021 as the fourth City in the country after Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
The officer added that for a city to be sustainable, it requires decent work and economic growth in order to reduce insecurity, attract more tourists, and expand the hospitality industry.
He observed that for Urban planning to be achieved, it includes constructing well-maintained roads, bridges, and public transportation systems and ensuring access to clean water, electricity, and waste management services.
Addressing the housing needs of the city’s growing population by promoting affordable housing initiatives through public-private partnerships to construct housing that meets the needs of different income groups.
Additionally, Kuria said that to achieve environmental sustainability, the county will prioritise environmental conservation, promote clean energy initiatives, encourage waste reduction and recycling, and protect natural resources by planting more trees.
Apart from that, he said more investment will be channeled towards social infrastructure, such as healthcare facilities, schools, community centres, and cultural institutions, to provide essential services and foster social cohesion.
Finally, he said the implementation and sustainability of the urbanisation of Nakuru City require a long-term vision, collaboration with various stakeholders, such as FES, and continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure progress.
By Veronica Bosibori
