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UN Plan to Tackle Towns Fouling
- Details
- Published on Saturday, 12 April 2008 02:51
Prof Jossy Matero, the head of water and sanitation at the UN agency's urban development department, said growth of slums had put a lot of pressure on sewerage systems leading to pollution. Speaking during a tour of Kisii Town, the official said corruption in high offices was to blame for failure to implement donor projects.
The pilot project will be extended to other towns around Lake Victoria to stem cases of marine pollution. The UN agency launched the programme in response to observations that several towns in the region were poorly planned and were, as a result, polluting Lake Victoria.
Speaking later when he called on Kisii deputy mayor Patrick Siro, Prof Matero said the programme was necessary for growth and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and in Kenya.
In the plan, Kisii and Homa Bay have been designed as sister cities while Keroka, Ogembo, Suneka and Nyamira towns have been identified as dormitory towns to provide accommodation for visitors and workers. Prof Matero was accompanied by Mr Stephen Chune, the physical planner in charge of Kisii and Homa Bay who said plans were under way to relocate the Gusii stadium, dump site and cemetery to create room for expansion of the town.
New initiatives
Mr Chune decried the location of Kisii's main dump site, which is next to a river that provides water to people living in the outskirts of the town.
Prof Matero said the local community would benefit from employment opportunities as the new plan comes complete with designs for amusement parks, tourist hotels, ultra-modern schools and hospitals and other facilities. He, however, said the new initiative would require input of stakeholders to push for new legislation where necessary. Of particular concern was the land policy, which Prof Matero noted would have to be reviewed.
