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Kiambu county government is spending Sh150 million to upgrade Kiandutu and Matharau slums in Thika as it races against time to elevate the busy town to a city.

 Massive face-lift of the slums that are currently in deplorable state are at an advanced stage with the local government pushing to change their face before the end of this year.

 Among the projects that the governor Kimani Wamatangi led government is undertaking includes construction of bitumen standard roads, walkways, social hall, drainage and high mast floodlights.

 The local government is also seeking to establish modern ways of waste disposal and construction of modern toilets to facilitate hygiene at the informal settlements for better livelihoods.

 Speaking during a consultation meeting with traders from Kiandutu slums which is set for a Sh75 million upgrade, Wamatangi revealed that the government will also issue title deeds to the over 5,000 slum dwellers to empower them to build better housing structures. “We want to empower you to build better houses by issuing you with the requisite land documents. You will all have your title deeds by April this year. This will eliminate the fear you have been having of being evicted,” said Wamatangi. “We are also seeking to tarmac your roads in Kiandutu after so many years of using run-down roads in your daily movements,” added Wamatangi.

The county boss further revealed that the government will build a Sh75 million modern market in Kiandutu which will be constructed jointly with the national government.

Already, the national government has injected Sh50 million for the one-storey building while the Kiambu county government will top up with Sh25 million.

The development projects, Wamatangi says, are in tandem with the county’s plan to elevate Thika Municipality to city status.

“My administration is also set to upgrade and expand Kiandutu level 3 hospital. We have also completed the procurement of Athena Level Three Hospital which will have an inpatient and outpatient wing, a laboratory and a mini-theatre,” he noted.

 Residents who spoke to journalists indicated that the village has been grappling with a myriad of challenges pointing out deplorable access roads, filthy sanitation amenities, uncollected garbage, lack of clean water for domestic use and high rates of unemployment especially among the youth.