Nairobi City County has launched an ambitious initiative to construct new social halls across the county.
This is to enhance talent, skills development, and social care.
Talents, Skills Development, and Social Care executive 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 said.
She stated that the new social halls will be comprehensive facilities designed to serve a variety of community needs, including offices, meeting rooms, washrooms facilities for the disabled, and changing rooms.
There will also be safe spaces for children, youth, and the community at large, and a kitchen area.
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 including in Mbotela, Jericho, Lumumba, Bahati and Kaloleni in Makadara subcounty, Shauri Moyo and Pumwani in Kamukunji subcounty, Mathare North in Ruaraka subcounty.
Others are Kariokor and Muthurwa in Starehe subcounty, Kariobangi North, Dandora I, Dandora II, Dandora III and Dandora IV in Embakasi North, Kabiro in Dagoretti North, and Kayole II in Embakasi Central.
There are also social halls in Embakasi and Soweto in Embakasi East, Kabiro in Dagoretti North, Karen in Lang’ata, Ngong Road, and Joseph Kang’ethe in Kibra.
Others include Waithaka in Dagoretti North, Kangemi in Westlands, Mugumoini in Lang’ata, Saika in Kasarani, Eastleigh in Kamkunji and Uhuru in Embakasi West Subcounty.
Sakaja said the 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.
