By MN Reporter

Over 20,000 residents of two slums in Migori county are set to benefit from an upgrade by the World Bank and national government.

Under the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP), 5,800 Pandi Pieri residents in Migori town and businesses will benefit as they will be issued with 200 title deeds and while in Jiw Dendi, Awendo town 500 title deeds will be issued to about 15,000 beneficiaries.

The project was launched on Monday to begin with surveyor of the area to ascertain those who will benefit from title deeds which will be done in ten months time.

Migori county Lands and Urban Development executive John Kobado said the two area are in the middle of towns, adjacent to busy Kisii-Isebenia highway connecting Kenya-Tanzania and are placed in prime areas.

“We will later scale it up to 11 areas,” Kobado said.

Arthur Rangi, KISIP County Coordinator said they started with demarcation of land which will follow up immediately with improving infrastructure which will include tarmack roads at Pandipieri covering four kilometers and 10 kilometers at Jiw Dendi estate.

“We will then improve water and waste management, lighting to boost security, electricity connecting, this will bring in investors and allow land owners to seek loans to improve the area,” Rangi said.

He said according to urban planning the two slums are designated into high rise residential apartments, go-down and commerical building zones but this has not been forthcoming.

“We are optimistic this project will open our estates and allow investors to boost our economy and social welfare,” Agnes Apindi, a resident at Pandipieri said.