Mwanzo and Kipkaren Informal Settlements in Uasin Gishu county have been identified as major beneficiaries of KISIP 2, component 2, which provides for social economic inclusion.

Under the social-economic inclusion component, the initiative will focus on economic empowerment of disadvantaged groups in the community including youth, orphans, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

According to Zenah Kirui head of Social Economic inclusion, KISIP 2 is undertaking sensitization of the programme to the beneficiaries at Mwanzo and Kipkaren settlements to ensure that adequate preparation is done to maximize the benefits from the programme. She notes that the success of this component is very important as it sets pace to inform future decisions to other informal Settlements that will be considered for such funding.

Ms. Kirui said that KISIP is not just about infrastructural development but also ensuring that the communities that benefit from the programme are empowered to break barriers of accessing economics inclusion.

“We are looking at the members of the public from the Settlements to decide and identify the projects that will be beneficial to them. The projects may range from social halls, day care centres, youth centres , sanitation facilities, and more that they may select as per their priority needs.

The component will cover four thematic areas, among them solid waste management, where youth can generate income through innovative technologies in solid waste management, behaviour change in youth to eliminate crime and violence in informal settlements, disaster management and social inclusion of all without bias either by gender, age or disability,” said Ms. Kirui.

Hon. Daniel Letting MCA Kipkenyo ward and Hon. Gilbert Lagat of Kiplombe ward assured the National team of support from the County assembly and that all projects will be identified through Public Participation.

Municipality Manager Mr.Tito Koiyet, reminded the residents to protect public land from grabbers and also transform the idle public spaces to green spaces for youth to take up activities in a beautiful environment.

KISIP coordinator Uasin-Gishu County Ms. Nelly Jerotich, hosted the team and urged the technical team to guide in programme implementation by ensuring that the Settlements will get spaces to undertake the projects.

Also present in the sensitization programme were ward Administrators Mr. Abraham Kurgat and James Rotich from the aforementioned wards, planner Cornelius Kibet and the settlement Executive Committee Members.