Kisii hosts World Cities Day as counties urged to pair housing with waste systems
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Kenya marked World Cities Day 2026 in Kisii with a call for county governments to treat housing, markets and waste management as a single urban system rather than isolated projects.
Kisii hosted Kenya's World Cities Day 2026 celebrations at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre, with counties urged to strengthen waste management through reliable collection, segregation at source, recycling, material recovery and safe disposal. The event was held under the theme "Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All".
A speech by Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome was read on her behalf by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, who said adequate housing goes beyond providing a roof and requires clean water, sanitation, proper drainage, transport, public spaces, essential services and economic opportunities.
Ogamba said urbanisation creates opportunities for employment, investment and improved livelihoods but warned that poorly planned growth could worsen housing shortages, pollution, flooding and pressure on public services. He cited affordable housing projects in Ogembo, Suneka, Nyachenge, Nyanchwa and Nyaribari Masaba in Kisii County as opportunities to expand access to housing, create jobs and stimulate local economic activity, while insisting such investments must come with drainage, sanitation, waste collection, transport links and green public spaces.
He also emphasised the role of modern markets in supporting small businesses, traders and agricultural value chains, saying their success depends on proper planning, reliable water supply, good hygiene and efficient waste collection, and urged counties and municipalities to plan housing, markets and other infrastructure as part of an integrated urban system.