Garissa County set to receive KUSP funds for Urban Development projects
Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane has expressed the administrations commitment to utilize development funds from both the exchequer and development partners for the common good of residents of the town.
Mr. Dagane was Speaking on Wednesday when he met with a team from the World Bank institutional consultant ACAL Consulting at the County headquarters in Garissa.
He said the local government is committed to using the funds to enhance the county’s infrastructure for economic development and improved livelihoods for residents.
He confirmed the County Government is fast tracking efforts to meet the required threshold to enable the new Masalani Municipality access funds for key infrastructure improvement from the Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP).
“The remaining conditions which will enable Masalani access these funds would be met before the deadline,” added the deputy governor.
He noted that “ the elevation of Dadaab town into a Municipality would also benefit the town, as the World Bank had put aside monies for its infrastructure upgrade along with Kalobeyei integrated settlement, located just outside of Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County.”
Dadaab which hosts refugees recorded massive environmental degradation, loss of biodervasity and depletion of underground water resources due to population increase. Part of the additional funding will go towards greening projects and expansion of water access infrastructures.
In the KUSP first phase, Garissa Municipality was among the seven municipalities, out of 59 across the country, which met the World Bank’s minimum KUSP grant conditions and in turn received Sh. 514 million.
The money was used for tarmacking key roads in the municipality, constructing storm water drainage and pedestrian walkways, putting up street lights as well as a constructing the Qorahey market.
“In the next phase, the projects which we will undertake once we receive KUSP Phase II funds will be completely demand driven by the community through public consultations,” said the deputy governor.
About USD 300 Million was invested in the first phase over a six year period from 2016 to 2023 and was issued to the 59 participating municipalities as performance based conditional grants.
The upcoming phase plans to set aside an additional 50 million USD specifically for Kakuma Kalobeyei and Dadaab as refugee hosting towns in Kenya.
Present during the meeting was Mohamed Hassan – CEO Garissa Municipality and Magan Dahir – Garissa Municipality Board Member.