Work together to develop counties, Ngilu tells stakeholders

By JECKONIA OTIENO

Stakeholders in county development have been urged to work together to make devolution a success.

The call was made during a conference titled: Second National Conference on Planning Under a Devolved System of Government in Kenya held in Kisumu and organised by the Kenya Institute of Planners.

In a speech by Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Charity Ngilu, professionals in the planning field were asked to create a situation where people get essential services wherever they work in order to reduce the ever burgeoning challenge of rural-urban migration.

“This will suppress the ever-pressing issue of rural–urban migration and will, therefore, relieve the pressure that big cities and towns are sighing under,” Ms Ngilu said.

The Lands ministry has prepared a draft National Spatial Plan, which is expected to be completed in the 2013/2014 financial year. The plan will engage sectorial players and experts and harmonise views and proposals.

One of the areas that have been targeted in planning is the provision of housing, which has remained a big headache for Kenya.