Civil Society groups demand explanation after Nakuru missed out on World Bank grant

The news of Nakuru city missing out on the World Bank Funding for the Kenya Urban Support Program KUSP II, sent shockwaves among the residents of the city.

What are these funds used for?

This grant is usually offered by the World bank for the purposes of strengthening urban institutions, improve infrastructure, and enhance service delivery in Kenya's counties.

The program seeks to address various challenges facing cities and municipalities such as poor road networks, poor drainages and inadequate lighting in the city among others.

In the recent past Nakuru city residents have complained of numerous issues including potholes on the streets, poor drainages, from the footbridge in Gate Iguru and lack of street lighting in the city.

While addressing the Assembly, the Biashara Ward representative, Fadhili Msuri, says that he is very disappointed that the Kihika led administration was unable to secure this funding.

Citing that his predecessor was able to oversee very many projects courtesy of this funding.

“The Lions Garden rehabilitation, the new fire station and the tarmacking of key roads in the city were all done by my predecessor, however during my time, we have missed out on sh 282 million and it is unfortunate,” he laments.

He reveals that the 11 MCAs who would have benefitted from this programme had even identified the key projects they were going to embark on.

“We had even promised wananchi that we had secured funding and then this news broke, that we had missed out on the same funding we had promised our people,” he says.

He concluded by saying that heads must roll for this.

Masese Kemunche Chief Executive Officer at the Centre of Enhancing Good Governance (CEDGG) says that in the recent past the County has benefitted from this grant in the past and we have seen much happened from this program.

“Nakuru has so many challenges poor drainages, poor road networks and a crippled health sector. The reason for losing this grant was because of issues of compliance and most of the conditions were set out in the law of Kenya and the reason as to why the city missed out on this is something the Governor should come out and explain,” he says.

Shiko Kihika the Founder of Tribeless Youth echoes the sentiments of Masese and says that the County Assembly should start calling people to account.

“The assembly claims that they will take action against those who were responsible, however time and again we have seen them claim the same, but no action is ever taken. It is really sad; however we hope this time they do their jobs and take the necessary action,” she says.