Sh953 million earmarked to light up Nairobi

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero when he visited fire victims at Kibera and Viwandani slums in Nairobi yesterday. [Photo: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

NAIROBI COUNTY: The Government plans to spend Sh953 million to light up the city in a bid to improve security.

The Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta early on the week, was told that the project once completed would push for a 24-hour economy.

The project covering 30 per cent of the city is to cater for approximated 416 streets. A total of 24,000 lighting columns and 7,300 public lighting masts will be used.

A statement from the Presidential Service Communication Unit (PSCU) giving details on the meeting noted that the remaining 70 per cent of the city would see new infrastructure constructed at an estimated cost of Sh7.9 billion.

"The new infrastructure will include 12,959 public lighting masts, 54,029 street lighting points on steel/concrete poles; and brackets on existing Kenya Power lines, among other items of infrastructure. These will be situated in public open areas and informal settlements," the statement reads in part.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the progress of different ongoing projects within the county including the Kibera slum upgrade.

"Relocation of all power lines obstructing road works have been completed. 45 lanterns and power infrastructure have been installed on the new 1.5km stretch between Soweto—Silanga—Darajani Crescent roads," the statement said.

It added: "Work is in progress on the 1.6km Laini Saba—Darajani Crescent road stretch and 30 public masts were lit up within the project area. Kibera has a total number of 116 lighting masts installed, 100 floodlights were procured and supplied to the National Youth Service for night load construction and quarrying works."

The Cabinet also heard that work on lighting new public toilet buildings, police posts, Beyond Zero clinics, and new public commercial facilities are in progress.

"The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is lighting up Kibera through installation of 21 floodlight masts. Contracts for works were awarded by REA on October 13, 2014, to three firms at a cost of Sh89.3 million. They will be completed by December 3, 2014 (last Wednesday)," the statement adds.

Among other ongoing projects in the city that the Cabinet was briefed on include the rehabilitation of roads within the county where 490 streets, lanes and avenues were to be refurbished including 116 streets with public lighting mounted on Kenya Power infrastructure, and 374 streets mounted on Nairobi City County (NCC) steel columns.

The Cabinet was told that the project began on November 21, and 43 public lighting masts have been supplied, and 831 lanterns rehabilitated.

By December 5 another 120 streets, lanes, avenues are expected to have been completed. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has begun repairing the vandalised infrastructure on sections of Thika Super highway.