Nakuru county departments and agencies interlinkages for the implementation of SymbioCity project
Nakuru, Kenya, Monday, December 10th, 2018: Everlyne Otieno, an Urban Development Specialist working with SymbioCity Kenya today paid Francis Mwangi, the Nakuru County CECM for Lands, Housing and Physical Planning a courtesy call that aimed at reviewing the progress of the SymbioCity Project in Nakuru County.
The SymbioCity project is partnership between the Kenya’s Council of Governor and Sweden’s Association for Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). The programme is funded through the Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi. Its implementation is taking place in seven pilot counties, Nakuru being one of them.
The project considers interlinkages between various urban issues and their impact to long term urban planning.
SymbioCity also brings together various sectors and stakeholders. Besides fostering collaboration for development, it also encourages incorporation of beneficiaries’ voice for holistic and sustainable solutions to urban development.
The meeting scrutinized the challenges that the project is facing and it was an opportunity for parties to change what they deem necessary before the contract is signed.
‘The purpose of this meeting-cum-fact-finding mission is to track the progress of the SymbioCity Project in Nakuru County as well as explore ways of keeping this live-changing project on course’, said Everlyne Otieno.
Adding, ‘this the most appropriate time to amend the contract where changes are necessary as the window for this is still open. When the contract will be signed, this window closes and there will be no more changes to the contract’.
On his part, the CECM for Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, Francis Mwangi assured that his department is doing all it can to ensure that the Nakuru SymbioCity Project is fully implemented.
‘We have forged a partnership with Nakuru Rural Water and Sanitation Company (NARUWASCO) and the Department of Infrastructure’, said Francis Kariuki.
Further saying, ‘the former is carrying out a hydrological survey and drainage designs, while the latter is assisting the county’s rural water supplier with drainage design work’.
NARUWASCO, an agency of the County Government of Nakuru is financing the undertakings, hence monies that had been allocated for this purpose in the Nakuru SymbioCity project budget will be channeled for other uses for the enhancement of the project.
After the courtesy call, the CECM, accompanied by the SymbioCity Urban Development Specialist Everlyne Otieno as well as Naomi Moranga, the County’s Pilot Coordinator; Eng John Okioga, NARUWASCO’s Civil Engineer and Eng Simon Nginga; the acting Chief Officer Department of Infrastructure visited Jewathu, an informal settlement in Njoro sub-county where the SymbioCity project is being undertaken.
Solomon Mbugua, Mapping and Geographic Information System Officer was present in the courtesy call meeting that took place at the CECM’s office, but never went for the field visit.
From the field visit it was agreed that by the turn of this week, both the hydrological survey and the drainage designs will be ready. Something that Everlyne said will be very instrumental towards the project’s progress.