Kenya gives UN habitat Sh100 million

President Uhuru Kenyatta at United Nations Complex, Gigiri in Nairobi on Friday, 17th April, 2015. [PHOTO: GOVEDI ASUTSA/Standard]    

NAIROBI: Kenya has promised to support United Nations Habitat with close to Sh100 million in a bid to enhance proper housing and urban development.

Speaking during the 25th session of the UN Governing Council in Gigiri, President Uhuru Kenyatta rallied the country's support to the humanitarian body.

"Poverty reduction is not by relocating people from rural to urban spaces but by linking the two setups so that there can be systematic growth," President Uhuru said.

In his speech, Uhuru noted that the country had already embraced the agenda of world urban systematic growth by adopting devolution. He said that the essential services that had been cornered in major towns can now be realised in the remote areas.

He said that, "We will see in the future people coming to the cities because of a particular need rather than hopelessness in the villages."

The monies promised by the state will support UN Habitat 3 trust fund and go to non-earmark funds that are ran by the agency.

The promise by the state comes as the UN body noted that Africa has the largest number of countries with the fastest growing urban settings.

"We should ensure a spirit of cooperation,'' Uhuru said.

The major challenges about upcoming urban centres though are pollution, poor urban planning, and inadequate laws governing the upcoming urban settings, unemployment and proliferation of slums.

The organisation has called for an improvement in urban planning that will support integrated infrastructure and economic development.

The meeting by delegates from across the world will be the last one before ushering in the new era of sustainable growth in the world.

At the same time, the President spoke to the delegates on the terror attacks that have rocked the country in the recent past.

He said that the country would not be shaken by the threats posed by Al-Shabaab.

"The world will not be intimidated by killers,'' he said.