Nairobi embarks on major social halls project to boost community engagement

Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Talents, Skills Development, and Social Care, Rosemary Kariuki, announced that the county plans to build four new social halls. These will be located in Gatina Ward, Mabatini Ward, Umoja 1 Primary School, and the Dandora II Youth Complex.

"In addition to these, we have ongoing projects at Kahawa West and the Mwiki Multi-Storey Social Hall," Kariuki confirmed.

The new social halls will be comprehensive facilities designed to serve a variety of community needs, including:

- Offices

- Meeting rooms

- Washrooms, including facilities for the disabled, and changing rooms

- Safe spaces for children, youth, and the community at large

- A kitchen area

City Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized the importance of community engagement in the development of these spaces.

"We want to involve the young people in these communities in describing the spaces they'd like and the activities they want to engage in," Sakaja said. "We want those engagements so that they can own the spaces from utility and activity design."

Currently, Nairobi County manages 29 social halls. Some of these include:

1. Mbotela – Makadara Sub-county

2. Jericho – Makadara

3. Lumumba – Makadara

4. Bahati – Makadara

5. Kaloleni – Makadara

6. Shauri Moyo – Kamukunji

7. Pumwani – Kamukunji

8. Mathare North – Ruaraka

9. Kariokor – Starehe

10. Muthurwa – Starehe

11. Kariobangi North – Embakasi North

12. Dandora I – Embakasi North

13. Dandora II – Embakasi North

14. Dandora III – Embakasi North

15. Dandora IV – Embakasi North

16. Kabiro – Dagoretti North

17. Kayole II – Embakasi Central

18. Embakasi – Embakasi East

19. Soweto – Embakasi East

20. Kabiro – Dagoretti North

21. Karen – Lang'ata

22. Ngong Road – Kibra

23. Joseph Kang'ethe – Kibra

24. Waithaka – Dagoretti North

25. Kangemi – Westlands

26. Mugumoini – Lang'ata

27. Saika – Kasarani

28. Eastleigh – Kamkunji

29. Uhuru – Embakasi West

These facilities will be managed by county officials, specifically Assistant Welfare Officers, together with community representatives. "They will oversee the daily operations and ensure that the facilities serve the community effectively," Sakaja said.

Nairobi County's commitment to developing social halls marks a significant step towards enhancing community engagement, promoting talent, and providing essential social care services.

"The new and ongoing projects promise to create safe, inclusive spaces that cater to the diverse needs of Nairobi's residents," Sakaja reiterated.