Kibaki: Plan African cities carefully

By MOSES NJAGIH

President Kibaki has urged African governments to embark on careful planning of the continent’s cities and urban centres to address the rapid rate of urbanisation.

The President said with the continent facing the challenges associated with the movement of its population to urban centres, it was important for stakeholders to consider implementing remedial measures to ensure well-planned urban centres.

He said currently, the continent continues to face challenges associated with rapid urbanisation.

"Other global phenomena such as climate change and an economic downturn have compounded the problem. The effects of climate change have contributed to a worsening urban physical and economic environment," he said.

President Kibaki was speaking when he opened the fourth edition of the African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban development (AMCHUD) Thursday.

Timely theme

The forum is bringing together African ministers holding the housing docket in their respective countries.

He said the conference theme was timely as it focused on planning and access to basic services in urban areas.

He said Kenya had instituted legal, policy and institutional interventions to promote access to land, housing, basic services and infrastructure while at the same time mitigating the effects of climate change

Kibaki said the Government had also established institutional framework for improvement and prevention of informal settlements through the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme and Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Programme.

The Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Dr Joan Clos, said it was important for the continent to take urgent urban planning, saying this will shape the destiny of the continent.