The process has so far involved documenting community visions and concerns in the targeted settlements which include Kampi Samaki in Baringo North Sub County, Kambi Turkana in Marigat - Baringo South Sub County as well as Metipso, Kabimoi and Umoja in Eldama Ravine Sub County.

The planning which will see land tenure regularization, the clarification of land use zones and beaconing that will enable completion of titling is being done by the County Government of Baringo with support from World Bank funded Second Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2), and is aimed at regularising land ownership, providing for standard infrastructure and social amenities as well as guiding sustainable environmental use and protection.

Speaking today during the presentation of preliminary draft plans, detailed topographical survey data and socio-economic survey findings by the project consultant, the CEC Lands and Urban Development Arch. Reuben Ruto called on the technical teams to ensure that the rights of all stakeholders are respected and that communities achieve contemporary plans in an amicable way.

Arch. Ruto expressed the County Government's commitment to support the planning processes, particularly by coordinating all players, including to build consensus that will enable the fast tracking of all requisite legal processes for the achievement of the Component I of KISIP 2 projects in Baringo.

The plans presented to the County planning technical formation by the Consultant, takes into account issues around detailed physiographic characteristics, population, demographics, and social infrastructure, and also outlines opportunities and planning implications.

Going forward, the draft plans will be taken through validation processes by stakeholders, including among others, the communities living in the settlements and their MCAs,

the County Assembly standing Committee on Lands and Urban Development before approval by County Cabinet, and subsequent forwarding to the County Assembly of Baringo for passing/ratification into legally binding plans.

Component 1 of the Second Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2) is a World Bank funded initiative that focuses on the upgrading of integrated settlement through financing activities required to regularize tenure for people living on uncontested public lands.

It's activities include the authoring of local physical and land use development plans, including socio-economic surveys and planning, placement of beacons to demarcate the parcels according to the local physical development and land use plan, to facilitate improvements.

The project also entails the preparation and issuance of allotment letters based on the survey plans and issuance of title deeds. This planning component makes provisions for the improvement in infrastructure and services, including roads, drainage, sewerage systems, lighting, and water, as well as social amenities and green spaces.

KISIP 2 project builds on the success of KISIP 1, which improved the living conditions of 1.3 million residents in 14 counties and led to issuing of 125,525 titles and building of 220 kilometers of access roads in14 counties, including Nairobi, Machakos, Kitui, and others, through investments in infrastructure, tenure security, and urban planning.

(Other Sources: World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group)