At least 600 residents residing in Kibera slums received keys to move into new houses built under the Kenya slums upgrading programme that aims at dealing with the slum menace in the country.
This is a positive move by the government in a bid to raise the living standards of the people of Kibera slums who are always faced with a myriad of challenges.
Issues like security, water shortage, sanitation and even lighting have been a dream for the residents of Kibera and the provision of the new houses is a commendable job from the government.
However, the initiative should be spread throughout the country where there are slums. Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, and Mombasa are major towns also affected by the increase in the slum growth and the government should stop the rapid growth with the provision of cheap and accessible houses to slum residents in other towns of the country.
For a long time, slums have given rise to social problems like crime and burglary and the conditions in the places have led to health epidemics.
With the introduction of the devolved government, the national government should allocate funds to help in the provision of houses to locals in the country. Shelter being one of the basic needs in life, the improvement in housing will improve the image of the country.
Kenya has for a long time been perceived as a struggling nation that has difficulties in fending for its citizens and this can only be changed through the improvement of livelihoods of the people.
The Cabinet Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, Jacob Kaimenyi, should mobilise his docket and formulate a strategy that will oversee the spread of the program countrywide. This will ensure that Kenya grows as a nation and its image improved.