Kenya seeks stakeholders collaboration ahead of WUF9

Ahead of the forthcoming World Urban Forum 9, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Mr.James Macharia has urged the country’s urban sector stakeholders to work together towards the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA). Speaking to participants at the just concluded National Urban Forum (NUF) held on 15 – 16 January 2018 to concretize Kenya’s position ahead of the WUF9, Mr. Macharia asked county governments, academia, civil society and the private sector stakeholders to support the country in achieving sustainable urbanization by identifying and playing specific roles as identified in NUA.
The Cabinet Secretary asked stakeholders to engage with UN-Habitat and to secure the technical assistance that the UN agency could provide in supporting sustainable human settlements development across the country. “As the host country of UN-Habitat, Kenya should be a pacesetter in promoting sustainable urbanization. The UN-Habitat Country Programme Document for Kenya (HCPD 2018-2021) prepared in collaboration with the government, will guide the implementation of UN-Habitat country level activities”, the CS added.
The Chairperson of the Council of Governors’ Committee on Housing, Lands and Urban Development Ferdinand Waititu encouraged counties to promote sustainable housing initiatives and development control guidelines if sustainable urbanization is to be realized adding that counties are the next frontiers for investment and economic growth.
UN-Habitat invited all WUF9 participants present at the NUF to attend the launch of the HCPD 2018-2021 that will be held during the Kenya Side Event in Kuala Lumpur. “Participants at the WUF9 are welcome to witness the launch of the HCPD 2018-2021”, Naison Mutizwa-Mangiza, the UN-Habitat Regional Director for Africa, said.