The launch of National Urban Development Policy by the Government is a step in the right direction. This will guide how cities and towns will be planned. Although they contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, urban areas have not been systematically supported, developed and managed.
However, the Government has identified ills that plague urban areas with rapid urbanisation as one of the key challenges. Managing urban development is now being viewed as a national priority with the need to promote sustainable urbanisation by creating well planned, vibrant and efficient urban centres. To achieve this goal, the Government will use the policy to guide allocation of resources and serve as a framework for governance and management.
The nation has witnessed rapid urbanisation that has increased pressure on service provision. The policy, which has been formulated through the Ministry of Local Government, with support of the Swedish Embassy, is guided by the new Constitution. Clauses 184 and 176(2) provide for regulation of urban areas and cities. This is also a critical guide to policy makers as they implement a devolved system of Government under the new Constitution.
The policy focuses on supporting an urban system that equitably serves the country and addresses historically neglected regions. It also seeks to reverse the marginalisation of sub-national governments through decentralisation and reforming local governance and financial systems as provided for by the Constitution. The policy is expected to improve living conditions in slums, urban safety, and protect rights of marginalised groups. Poor development of urban economies have led to high unemployment rate, poverty and inequality. Kenya’s urban areas are considered among the most unequal, contributing to increasing levels of crime, violence and juvenile delinquency among other social ills.
While urbanisation is likely to improve living standards, it may also bring about challenges that if not addressed could cause social disharmony. Only 30 per cent of urban centres are planned. Even among the planned centres, informal developments and slums continue to grow. Poor planning also manifests itself in haphazard and chaotic location of industries, residential, and commercial facilities.
Urban centres do not exist in isolation, they emerge and develop in specific contexts. However, the opportunities lead to challenges facing the urban areas and which are a common feature in nearly all towns. Currently, many urban services are at a breaking point.
Water supply is erratic and not available in all areas, unreliable services and systems that have not been modernised or adequately maintained. Electricity supply is also poor and this has led to illegal connections, especially in slum.
Other challenges in urban areas include poor solid waste management, transport health and social services. Roads are also dilapidated, with reserves being grabbed by private developers.
But poor governance in the management of urban areas and lack of capacity and investment in the provision of core services is also to blame for the challenges. The current levels of investment by local authorities fall short of what is required to maintain even the existing standards of services.
For example, expenditure on capital development in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu has been low while other towns are deep in debt with their annual expenditures dominated by salaries and wages.
Lastly, it is envisaged that the policy will be key in guiding urban development, including land use and management, environmental conservation, urban governance and management, urban investment and delivery of services.
Thus, the adoption of the policy is vital at this stage of the country’s development.
