Uhuru calls for global unity to stem rapid rise of slums

President Uhuru Kenyatta tours exhibition stands during the official opening of the 1st UN-Habitat Assembly at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri, Nairobi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday called for greater collaboration in the world to make cities cleaner and more hospitable.

Speaking when he opened the inaugural United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN- Habitat) conference in Nairobi yesterday, the President also called on member states to increase contributions to the global organisation.

“We need to increase the capacity and resource base of the UN Habitat for it to play its designated role on sustainable urbanization and human development,” he said.

He promised that Kenya would increase its annual contribution to the body in the next financial budget.

Urban challenges

Uhuru said challenges facing urban cities can only be addressed when the world unites.

“Kenya and other countries in the world are fighting poverty, proliferation of slums and environmental degradation. We need to explore strategic ways to transform our cities based on science and research,” Uhuru said.

He said his administration hopes to meet all its international obligations in sustainable development goals and the 2030 urban agenda.

“Through the Big Four Agenda, we intend to have manufacturing account for one per cent of our GDP. The launch of the Kenya Refinance Mortgage Company last week will provide long term secure funding to mortgage lenders to provide loans to people to build low cost houses,” he said.

“We need to improve sanitation and employment for the youth. Kenya has emphasised on entrepreneurship, we have established innovations centres to create a self-sustaining economy,” Uhuru said.

Planned development

UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the cities of the world are rapidly expanding and that the only way to ensure that urbanisation is sustainable is by encouraging more planned development.

“Every week, three million people move to cities and urban areas looking for work, education and a better life. Currently, over a half of the world’s population live in cities,” said Ms Sharif.

At least 1.4 billion people, most of them in Africa and Asia, are expected to move to urban areas by 2030.

According to Sharif, the UN Habitat, with 43 years’ global experience in developing urban solutions, is well placed to provide technical assistance to cities and communities.

“May 27, 2019 will be a historic day for all of us at UN Habitat in Nairobi. This is the world’s highest-level decision-making body focused on sustainable urbanisation,” She Sharif.

She called on governments to plan for and build homes for growing urban populations to ensure cities do not descend to chaos.

“Today, many cities suffer from lack of public transport, infrastructure, sanitation, water and schools. However, well managed cities can help drive economic growth, progress and innovation,” she Sharif.

Addressing the forum, UNEP acting Executive Director Joyce Msuya called for more resources to fund the new urban world.

“Seventy per cent of the world population will in 2050 live in urban areas. But majority of the slum dwellers breath polluted air and one billion people face water shortage,” said Ms Msuya.

“We need to protect the environment by constructing resilient low carbon cities by adopting smart urban planning,” she Msuya.

Mexican Magda Delgado, who was elected the first president of the inaugural UN-Habitat Assembly, promised to work hard to make the body achieve its goals.

“I am proud of the honour bestowed on me. I promise to work with you as a team so that we can achieve our goals,” Delgado said.

Indonesian lessons

Ridwan Kamil, governor of West Java State in Indonesia, called for more involvement of city residents in planning.

"In West Java, we have implemented programmes that aim at taking services to people instead of people coming to us," said Governor Kamil.

“We provide movies on streets where people watch for free. We provide food for the elderly. We provide medical care for the people. This has made their happiness index to jump from 60 per cent to 87 per cent," he said.

Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya said counties are also actively planning for urbanisation in their own regions.

“We are putting in place frameworks, policies and infrastructure to respond to the new urban agenda," he said.