The Kiambu government has revealed plans to upgrade slums within Thika subcounty including Kiandutu and Matharao.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi said plans for a massive facelift of the slums are at an advanced stage, adding that works will start at Kiandutu that sits on a 100 acres.
Major developments lined up for the slums include construction of a drainage system to address flooding, construction of access roads, launch of garbage collection schedules and construction of toilets.
Speaking while officially opening Mama Ngina Gardens, a recreation park within Thika town that was rehabilitated by area water service provider Thiwasco, Wamatangi also divulged that his administration will upgrade and expand Kiandutu Level 3 Hospital.
“We are determined to give Kiandutu slums a new look and we are optimistic that by mid next year this village won’t be the same again. We are rolling out a programme that will see roads, drainage and sanitation services improved in the slums for the benefit of our people. The same initiatives will be extended to Matharau informal settlement,” Wamatangi said.
The governor said plans were also underway to have the slum dwellers issued with title deeds to end ownership wrangles that have been witnessed in the shanties for decades. His administration will issue 4,500 title deeds to the locals.
“This is a reprieve for residents of the informal settlements who lack proper documents for their land parcels. It will also go a long way to end the longstanding land disputes in the areas,” he said.
The county boss was accompanied by Thiwasco managing director Moses Kinya and a host of MCAs. He said that he had received numerous petitions from Kiandutu residents demanding the county’s attention over the deplorable state of the village.
The residents had indicated in their petitions that the village is grappling with a myriad of challenges such as deplorable access roads, poor sanitation amenities, uncollected garbage, lack of clean water for domestic use and high rates of unemployment especially among the youth.
Residents led by Chege Mumbi had earlier raised concerns that they were living in fear of an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid due to poor drainage in the slum.
“There’s no drainage system in Kiandutu slums and currently almost the entire village is flooded. The situation has been worsened by toilets that are full to the brim, some overflowing. It will not be long before we hear of an outbreak of diseases. We are pleading for help,” Mumbi said.
Governor Wamatangi said the slums upgrade programme is in tandem with the county’s plan to elevate Thika municipality to city status.
Wamatangi said that the Thika Industrial Smart City project is underway, noting that its success will see the town attract funding to a tune of Sh1 billion annually that will be spent on infrastructural development.
“We are currently undertaking numerous projects like the upgrade of Thika stadium among others as we seek to realise our goal of elevating the town to city status. Again, Thika is set to get surplus water supply from the multibillion Karimenu Dam, which is imperative for the growth and sustainability of industries,” he said.
Kiandutu residents who spoke to the Star welcomed the decision to issue them with title deeds, saying that lack of the requisite land ownership documents had escalated land rows within the area and that it left loopholes for land cartels to grab parcels.
“God has finally answered our prayers. We have suffered for long in the hands of land cartels who have been encroaching on our parcels. We are sure that all unscrupulous grabbers will be kicked out of this area,” John Mugo said.