The Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project Phase 2 (KISIP 2), a US$165 million initiative co-funded by the International Development Association (IDA) and the Government of Kenya, is accelerating efforts to enhance land tenure security and improve access to basic services in informal settlements across the country. The project, scheduled to conclude in 2026, is focused on slum upgrading, institutional capacity building, and land tenure regularization.
In Trans Nzoia County, 45 residents of the Maridadi informal settlement in Kwanza Ward are currently being facilitated to relocate to newly demarcated properties as part of the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP). This move is designed to minimize disruptions caused by the project’s implementation while ensuring residents gain formal land ownership.
Facilitating Smooth Resettlements
Speaking during the resettlement exercise, Dr. Roselyne Nasiebanda, Chief Officer for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development in Trans Nzoia County, emphasized the initiative’s significance.
“This process ensures that all affected persons are compensated and given reprieve after the implementation of the plans. It paves the way for the completion of the project and the issuance of land tenure documents,” she stated.
KISIP 2 supports the preparation of Local Physical and Land Use Development Plans (LP&LUDP), incorporating land parcel layouts and infrastructure for roads, drainage, and walkways. Survey activities and physical placement of beacons have also been carried out to demarcate parcels.
Dr. Nasiebanda urged community members and stakeholders to support the county team’s efforts, noting:
“We are at the tail end of this project. Soon, you will receive your title deeds, enabling you to develop your properties and use them as collateral.”
Progress Across Multiple Settlements
The initiative in Trans Nzoia goes beyond Maridadi. Other informal settlements, including Shimo la Tewa in Kiminini Sub County and Khalabana in Endebess Sub County, are also benefiting from the land tenure regularization component.
Edith Baraza, Trans Nzoia County’s KISIP 2 Coordinator, shared updates on the process, stating that 49 beneficiaries from Maridadi are set to receive title deeds under the program’s first phase.
“After implementing the RAP, we will prepare a list of beneficiaries and allotment letters, which will be forwarded to Nairobi for the preparation of title deeds,” Baraza explained.
Community Cooperation: A Critical Component
The Environmental Safeguards Officer, Diana Modani, and Social Safeguards Officer, Pamela Indimuli, praised the cooperation between residents and the project’s Settlement Executive Committee (SEC).
“With support from the SEC and residents, we aim to fast-track the issuance of land documents to beneficiaries by early next year,” Modani noted.
Sustainable Urban Development Goals
KISIP 2’s broader objectives align with the constitutional mandates of both National and County Governments to achieve a coordinated approach to slum upgrading and sustainable urban development. As the project progresses, its outcomes are expected to transform informal settlements by offering formal land ownership, fostering economic opportunities, and improving living standards for residents.
