By MOSES NJAGIH
President Kibaki has underscored his desire to leave behind a rich legacy in infrastructural development.
Barely days after the President led in the ground breaking of the construction of the multi-billion shilling Lamu Port, he on Tuesday commissioned the construction of Sh3 billion settlement project under the slum upgrading programme in Kibera.
"My wish is to see development in this country and this should be the desire of all Kenyans. Already if you go round the country you will see it all. From roads, houses to factories, we have done a lot. It can be seen unless if you do not have eyes," said Kibaki.
Appreciating that much of what has been done has come through the support of donor community, the President called on Kenyans be active in participating in development to supplement the Government funding.
"We are borrowing funds from donors to accomplish some of these things and we have developed a programme of repaying these loans, that is why you should not rely on Government for everything," said Kibaki. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga being shown artistic models of storeyed houses to be constructed in Kibera Informal Settlement as part of the slum upgrading programme during the ground breaking ceremony of Soweto Highrise in Langâata District yesterday. [PHOTO: PMPS]
He added: "Do not keep telling us your problems because we also know them and we know you can spend the whole day enumerating them to us".
The Kibera project, to be undertaken with the support of the UN-Habitat, will involve construction of 912 housing units, 230 business stalls, a nursery school, social hall, a youth centre, three solid waste handling sheds, three toilet blocks and a perimeter wall.
Kibaki said the Government has budgeted Sh850 million for the project in the current financial year.
First priority
Prime minister Raila Odinga promised those whose shanties were demolished to pave way for upgrading of the slums that they would be given the first priority in occupying the units to be constructed.
