Kenya Urban Forum a step towards sustainable management of urban areas for socio-economic development

The first Kenya National Urban Forum (KUF) is taking place in Naivasha municipality between 14^th and 16^th June 2023 under the theme “strategic pathways to inclusive and sustainable urbanization in Kenya” and also carrying the broader theme of “the future is urban”. Indeed, the future is urban because according to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC), the proportion of the urban population to the total population was 31.2 percent and the urban growth rate was found to be 4.9 percent per annum. By 2030, it is projected that almost half of the Kenyan population will be living in urban areas. This is because the KPHC found out that Kenya has 372 urban areas, which range from markets, towns, municipalities and cities as per the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.

The importance of the urban areas to the socio-economic development of the country has made the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the World Bank, United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat), National Land Commission, Council of Governors and the Kenya Institute of Planners to organize the first ever national urban forum. The forum will tackle six key issues that are central to the effective management and operations of our urban areas, which are the engines of growth and also rapidly growing in number and size. First, is tackling the issue of land and its impact on urbanism and urbanization, which can be done by ensuring that land markets and property rights are streamlined and informality and uneconomical use of land and land resources reduced.

Secondly, is tackling the issue of urban finance which is the basis for provision of urban infrastructure and services. Thirdly, will be urban economy and poverty which should address the needs of the people living below the poverty line in urban areas, popularly called the marginal society/urban poor or the urban marginalized persons. Fourth undertaking strategies for urban planning and management, including land banking, standards and enforcement. Fifth is dealing with urban governance and management because urban politics and governance has profound impacts and affects urban residents significantly. Stakeholders should provide various ways of addressing many conflicts evident in urban areas over use of the available land and attendant resources. There is need to provide appropriate locations and sites for various land uses to avoid conflicts.  Sixth will be urban resilience, climate change and environment because climate change effects and the need for mitigation and adaptation will be greatly felt in urban areas Dr. Mutegi Giti, Urban management, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) & Environment Specialist. mutegigiti@gmail.com, @danielgiti.