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France through AFD Inaugurates Urban Fabric Initiative Project to Upgrade Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya
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Nairobi, September 4 – The Agence Française de Développement (AFD), together with the Government of Kenya and the Nairobi City County Government, officially launched the Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI) projects in Kahawa Soweto today. The programme aims to transform everyday life in Nairobi’s informal settlements by improving access to essential services, upgrading local infrastructure, and fostering more inclusive, sustainable urban development.
The ceremony brought together high-level representatives, including French Ambassador to Kenya H.E. Arnaud Suquet, AFD Africa Director Ms. Sandra Kassab, Nairobi County Governor H.E. Johnson Sakaja, Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga as well as local community representatives.
The Urban Fabric Initiative projects are financed by AFD through a €750,000 grant implemented in partnership with civil society organizations in three Nairobi settlements: Kahawa Soweto, Kayole Soweto and City Carton. These pilot initiatives deliver tangible improvements to residents’ living conditions, and engages local communities, strengthens social diagnostics, and tests tailored management approaches. By promoting co-design and participation, the UFI will also shape implementation of community development plans supported by AFD, the World Bank and the EU under KISIP 2, making it a key driver for stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable social impacts.
KISIP 2 combines secure land tenure with investments in roads, water and sanitation, stormwater drainage, public lighting, and community facilities, creating safer and more resilient urban environments. It also builds the capacity of both National and County Governments to develop and implement slum-upgrading strategies.
French Ambassador H.E. Arnaud Suquet, declared : “France is building on a strong community spirit to invest in urban development. Our goal is to make life better in informal settlements through a bottom-up agenda, making sure that people are at the center of their own urban development. To do that, we work closely with civil society and the county government. The same model will be scaled-up elsewhere in Kenya.”
Sandra Kassab, AFD Africa Director, declared : “AFD is committed to supporting inclusive urban development. The Kahawa Soweto project demonstrates how local engagement and sustainable design can create lasting benefits for communities.”
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, added : “The Urban Fabric Initiative(UFI) is not just another project; it is the physical manifestation of our vision of 'Order, Dignity, and Hope.'. It's about creating safe public spaces, improving sanitation, and building community centers that are owned and managed by the residents themselves. This is how we move from simply upgrading slums to dignifying human life."
“Through UFI, residents have not only shaped the design of their neighbourhood spaces, they have defined what community- led upgrading looks like in practice, setting a new standard for informal settlement development in Kenya. But more than that, they have reclaimed the right to belong and to shape futures rooted in dignity and place,” said Regina Opondo, Senior Principal at the Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI).
A distinctive feature of the urban fabric initiative is its community-led design and construction process, which ensured that local priorities shaped the facilities. These include sanitation blocks, recreational spaces, and multipurpose community infrastructure, creating a hub that reflects the needs and aspirations of Kahawa Soweto residents.
The inauguration marks a key milestone in Kenya’s journey toward upgrading informal settlements, strengthening community participation, and providing safe, resilient, and sustainable urban spaces for all.
Press contact:
Marine Cecchi
Project Officer, Economic and urban development
cecchim@afd.fr
Agence Française de Developpement
