World Bank Archives » Famous Nakuru

August 27, 2020

Why Arama was branded ‘Super MP’

Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama is the first person from Abagusii community alongside Dagoreti’s Simba Arati to be elected to parliament from a cosmopolitan area.

**Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama at a past media address.PHOTO/Pristone Mambili.**

Arama was elected in 2013 as Nakuru Town West MP on an ODM ticket.

He however hit headlines when he ditched ODM for Jubilee citing harrasment from ODM.

“I cannot work with dictators.I will join like-minded people” he said at the time he was joining Jubilee.

In 2017,he won the seat on Jubilee ticket after ODM fielded many candidates.

Arama who has maitained that his key role is service to the people has made strides in the education sector through bursary to various needy students.

He has also embarked on process to ensure that all schools in the area through the NG-CDF kitty have better infrastructure.

The World Bank-sponsored informal settlement upgrade project has also added him mileage as most roads in Nakuru West are now tarmacked with a well drainage in place.

On security matters,the Legislator has ensured establishment of police posts besides the construction of Kaptembwa Police station.

His development-focused has seen electorates brand him ‘Super MP’.

Simon Ole Nasieku from Nakuru Benchmarking team says the MP has shown true leadership is all about service to the people.

“Arama has shown what leadership is all about,development ” said Nasieku.

Early this year,the MP was in headlines over a move to have busaa legalized.

The MP sought to ammend the Alcoholic Drinks and control Act No.4 of 2010 to legalize busaa.

“Busaa does not contain high levels of ethanol and does not risk lives of consumers” he said.

According to the Legislator,the move would create employment to the youths as well as offer Kenyans a cheaper local beverage.

Despite many critics,Arama has always maitained that he speaks his mind.

He is also known to be a no-no sense person especially when you step on his toes.

“I am one person who will tell you face on when things are wrong” he said.

His good relation with locals is witnessed even on social media platforms where is an active member responding to issues affecting the citizens.

Arama is one of the Leaders who does not sit and watch as locals suffer.

When COVID-19 struck,he mobilized for resources and commenced distribution of relief food to vulnerable families in his constituency among them private schools teachers.

He said he sought funds from friends among them Interior CS Dr.Fred Matiang’i.

“This food is not part of the NG-CDF but a contribution from my friends as well as personal contribution” he said.

Recently when the floods caused havoc in some parts of Nakuru West,the MP sought a ministerial statement in parliement on how the affected families would be compensated.

Though a Kisii,Arama says his service as a Legislator is to ensure all the communities in his constituecy are satisfied.

“I cannot favour Kisii community simply because I am one.Nakuru West is not a Kisii land but cosmoplitant and I have to reach to all” he said in one of the media briefs.

Despite facing criticisms from his competitors,MP Arama maintains that his developemt record is clear.

The close ally of Interior CS Dr.Fred Matiang’i believes political leadership is about transforming lives of electorates.

Recently he met over 30 MCAs from Kisii region in a Nakuru hotel and they vowed to rally their support behind the two(CS Matiang’i and Arama) towards 2022 succession politics.

August 13, 2020

Government welcomes sh16.2b World bank credit for informal settlements upgrade

The Government has welcomed a US$150 million (KSh16.2billion) credit from the International Development Association of the World Bank for the continued upgrading of informal settlements in select urban areas across the country under the State Department for Housing and Urban Development (SDHUD).

The funds will be used to finance the second phase of the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) that is focused on improving living conditions and livelihoods in informal settlements.

This will be done through an integrated approach comprising infrastructure upgrading, strengthening tenure security, enhancing socio-economic inclusion and supporting institutional as well as policy development.

The Project is focused on improving living conditions and livelihoods in informal settlements through an integrated approach comprising infrastructure upgrading, strengthening tenure security, enhancing socio-economic inclusion and supporting institutional as well as policy development.

Approximately 1.7 Million people are set to benefit from these interventions

Phase 1 of the Project which closed on November 30 2019, directly and positively impacted 1.4 million lives across 14 counties.

Commenting on the approval from the World Bank, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Amb. Ukur Yatani Kanacho said this will spur social and economic development.

“We are very delighted to receive this support from the World Bank that will go a long way in enabling us to improve informal settlements in our urban spaces and in so doing spur social and economic development and bring those populations into the mainstream economy,” he said.

The credit terms have a maturity of 30 years including a five-year grace period.

James Macharia, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development under whose ministry the project is domiciled said the roll out of KISIP 2 will enable both the national and county governments reduce the number of slums in the country, lift millions of people out of poverty and restore their dignity.

“The Project will enhance their quality of life by providing basic services that will ensure that households have access to sanitation and safe water which will in turn reduce communicable diseases; we will provide roads and footpaths that will improve mobility and access to those settlements as well as high mast lighting that will enhance security and spur economic activities,” CS Macharia said.

KISIP 2, which is envisaged to run for 5 years, will build on the successes of KISIP 1 which saw 1.4 million lives directly and positively impacted across 14 counties.

“We will go into KISIP 2 with great insights and positive experiences that we have drawn from KISIP 1 on informal settlements upgrading. These funds are therefore a major shot in the arm for the Government and particularly the State Department because we now have an opportunity to continue transforming the lives of our people in slums who often feel neglected and marginalized,” SDHUD Principal Secretary Charles Hinga added.

County governments and respective communities will play a critical role in the implementation of this program.

Specific activities under KISIP 2 will include; titling to enhance tenure security, Infrastructure upgrading for basic services (roads, drainage, water, sanitation, street lighting, community facilities, Livelihoods support and community engagement to assess and address risks, including the impacts of COVID-19.

KISIP 1 was a partnership of the Kenyan Government, the World Bank fund IDA and development partners Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and France’s AFD.

The partners cumulatively invested US$165m into the project which kicked off in June 2011 and which saw the enhancement of tenure security and the investment in infrastructure and service delivery in 15 urban areas within 14 counties.

KISIP 1 closed on November 30th 2019.

The Project supported the counties of Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu with the necessary technical assistance during their preparation of housing and urban development plans, which have since been included in their County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs).

February 8, 2018

World Bank to help Nakuru County address water, sanitation challenges

The County Government of Nakuru has partnered with the World Bank to address perennial water supply, sanitation, and hygiene challenges facing the county.

The World Bank will offer financial and technical assistance through innovative approaches, a key milestone as the County gears up to becoming a City.

A high level Sanitation Technical Assistance Mission from the World Bank is in Nakuru on a fact finding mission an evaluate the project’s feasibility and costs.

Research has shown that improved sanitation leads to lower disease burden, better environment as well as economic and social gains.

The team has toured 11 sub-counties, including the Giotto Dump Site and the Lake Niavasha.

*Nakuru County Water and Sanitation director Mr Johnson Kamau with the Sanitation Technical Assistance Mission team from the World Bank at the Lake Nakuru National Park*

Today, the team toured Lake Nakuru National Park that’s facing serious pollution challenges from communities around and industrial waste.

Ms Lewnida Sara, a rural sanitation expert said World Bank would also help the county address clean water shortage and general hygiene for the county residents.

Governor Lee Kinyanjui, in a speech read on his behalf by County Director of Water and Sanitation Engineer Johnson Kamau, said the growing urban population and proximity to lakes was a threat to the ecosystem.

He said the county would work with other stakeholders and partners to address pollution issues in Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru.

“We are also considering the establishment of an independent body to manage our critical water resources,” the governor added.

Senior Park Warden Mr Samuel Tokore said increased pollution of Lake Nakuru National Park had led to death of animals at the park.

He said due to its fragile ecosystem and unique natural environment, the salt-water lake was the first in the country to receive recognition as a Ramsar Site.

A Ramsar Site is a wetland site designated of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, and coming into force in 1975.

It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources.

Mr Tokore said most pollution comes from the Giotto dumpsite at London Estate as well as from communities living along River Njoro.

At the same time, the county is rehabilitating Gioto dumpsite, which was established over 20 years ago.

“For long, the dumpsite has been an eyesore to users of the Nakuru-Kabarak road. It is now a danger to drivers,” said Governor Lee while launching the initiative late last year.

He said the move was a stop-gap measure as the county sourced for an alternative land to relocate the dumpsite from Ravine Road.

Efforts to transfer the dumpsite during the Kinuthia Mbugua administration hit a snag due to lack of investors and goodwill.