NAMSIP

URBAN PLANNING

Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Projects (NaMSIP)

Preparation of 12 Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plans for Selected Areas in Murang’a and Kiambu Counties within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region

Project Details

CLIENT: Nairobi Metropolitan Service Improvement Project (NaMSIP). Formerly under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Kenya. World Bank-Funded

Ass. CONSULTANT: BC Gildenhuys and Associates (South Africa)

DURATION: 2015-2016

BACKGROUND

One of the major development challenges facing Kenya is rapid unplanned urban growth that has resulted negatively on urban economies, inclusiveness and sustainability. It is in response to this background that the Nairobi Metropolitan Service Improvement Project (NaMSIP) was formed to address urban challenges within the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi, and its surrounding counties.

The Nairobi Metro region, extending some 32,000 square kilometers, is a national, regional and international strategic Centre for education, commerce, transport, regional, cooperation and economic development. It connects eastern central and southern African countries and plays a significant role in the global, regional and local economy. It is a center of international diplomacy, finance, banking and commerce.

THE ASSIGNMENT

NaMSIP in collaboration with the metropolitan counties identified areas within Kiambu and Murang’a Counties that were in urgent need of spatial planning and assigned this contract to the consortium comprised of ACAL consulting (Kenya) and BC Gildenhuys and Associates (South Africa). The 12 plans assigned to the Client for preparation were as follows:

Muranga County

  1. Murang’a County Spatial Plan (CSP)
  2. A2 Corridor ISUDP
  3. Muranga Town ISUDP
  4. Maragua Town ISUDP
  5. Kangari Town ISUDP
  6. Kandara Town ISUDP

Kiambu County

  1. Kiambu Town ISUDP
  2. Wangige Town ISUDP
  3. Githunguri Town ISUDP
  4. Gatundu Town ISUDP
  5. Kimende Town ISUDP
  6. Kamwangi Town ISUDP

OUR APPROACH

The Consultant collected spatial and socio-economic data for the selected planning areas, synthesized the emerging planning constraints and opportunities, and translated these into spatial development strategies.

The Consultant prepared the 12 Plans ensuring participation of all government stakeholders and local community members including persons living with disability, women and the elderly.

The Plans were prepared to allow for the promotion of social and economic development through the provision of proximate, easily accessible services such as upgraded road, water, sewer, health and education infrastructure. The Plans shall bind, guide and inform all planning development and decisions in the respective urban centers and ensure comprehensive inclusion of all urban functions.

IMPACT OF THE PLANS

The Plans prepared have had a major impact on the specific planning areas. The Plans can now be used by the Counties for:

  1. Development Control and Land Management- The Plans zoned the planning areas, defining the broad land uses that are allowable in each area. This will allow for order, safety and public health within a clean environment as enshrined in the Kenya Constitution.
  2. Attraction of Donor Funding- The Plans can serve as tools for the two Counties as well as their respective Municipalities to attract donor funding, that is often dependent on the availability of an approved plan.
  3. Investment Attraction- The Plans prepared have documented resources available and their spatial locations. In addition, they have highlighted specialized economic functions that can be conducted in specific areas and thus can be used by sub-government authorities to attract private investors.
  4. Socio-Economic Development- The Consultant ensured that Plan proposals contributed to the protection and promotion of the fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the Constitution of Kenya and the progressive realization of the socio-economic rights. The Plans for instance proposed the nurturing and promotion of informal commercial activities in an orderly and sustainable manner, identified sites for affordable housing while providing a framework for regulated urban agriculture to safeguard the urban poor.

OUR CLIENTS ARE FUNDED BY

© 2020 ACAL Consulting