By Elijah Obwolo
In a public participation forum, residents of Awelo have taken the lead in shaping their neighborhood’s future, providing crucial input for the Kenya Informal Settlement Redevelopment Project (KISRP). The ambitious project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), is poised to overhaul local infrastructure while securing the land rights of hundreds of residents through formal land-use planning and boundary readjustments
With project funds specifically earmarked for 1.9 kilometers of bitumen standards (tarmac), the community reached a consensus and chose the Chief’s Camp – Mahinga – Awelo Primary Road to ease transport bottlenecks and improve access to essential services. Mr. Omondi Nyaseda, the AICS Coordinator, emphasized that the road is just the beginning. He challenged locals to take an active role in the physical labour of the project. "I urge residents to grab these construction opportunities. This ensures project funds circulate directly within the community, empowering the very people the project is built for," Mr. Nyaseda stated.
A key pillar of the KISRP is ending the uncertainty of land ownership. Mr. Maurice Ochieng (Director of Physical Planning) and Mr. George Obare (Director of Housing) utilized satellite imagery and topographic surveys during the session to identify structures that fall outside established limits. The Lands Committee is now set to present the finalized plan to the County Assembly. Once approved, the official survey and boundary marking will commence immediately.