b65/38941/2010 planning research project ...urbanplanning.uonbi.ac.ke/sites/default/files/cae...most...
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PLANNING RESEARCH PROJECT
PROJECT TITLE: CRIME INCIDENCES AND COPING MECHANISMS IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS; THE CASE OF MUKURU KWA REUBEN
Purpose of the study
To examine the incidences of crime and coping mechanisms in the informal settlement of Mukuru
kwa Reuben. It was set out to identify the nature of criminal activities and the areas that are com-
monly affected, the types of crimes, intensity, frequency. The study also examined the coping mecha-
nisms of the residents and the responses towards insecurity in Mukuru kwa Reuben. The study aimed
to bring out the social spatial characteristics of Mukuru kwa Reuben that reinforce criminal behavior
and the coping mechanisms devised by the residents with the view to propose appropriate intervention
measures.
Study objectives 1. To identify the nature and incidences of crime in Mukuru Kwa Reuben
2. To identify the social spatial characteristics of the settlement that reinforce criminal behavior
3. To identify the coping mechanisms of Mukuru kwa Reuben residents to crime
4. To propose appropriate strategies for reducing crime and improving safety in Mukuru kwa Reuben
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY
LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA
Trigger risk factors that cause
crime
· Narrow footpaths
· Lack of definite transit routes
· Underdeveloped infrastructure
Physical environment Interven-
tions
· CPTED principles (Access con-
trol, Maintenance, Surveil-
lance, Activity support)
· Redevelopment of village layout
Crime occurrence Slowed development, failed in-
vestment, vandalism of property,
Fear among residents
Policy Interventions
· Enforcement of policy guidelines
· Employment opportunities for youths
· Policy guidelines for village manage-
ment
Structural causes that cause crime
· Institutional failure
· Un employment
· Lack of enforcement
Design Layout/ neighbor-
hood setting of informal set-
tlement
Safe neighborhood,
· Efficient circulation
flows
· Increased development
Coping mechanisms
Spatial: building gates, walls, physical rein-
forcement, target hardening,
Social: community policing, neighborhood
watch, group counseling
This was a comparative study where two villages ie, Feed the Children and Railway villages in Mukuru kwa Reuben
were selected because they show different physical setting of which each has effect towards crime incidences.
Summary of major findings:
Most rampant crimes were robbery, illicit brewing, muggings, burglary and assault.
Most crimes reported were highest in Feed the Children as compared to Railway village
Crimes that happened daily were illicit brewing, robbery and mugging. The intensity of most crimes was reported
to be moderate
Most crimes were reported to occur along footpaths and corridors. It was also highest near the river and along the
railway. The narrow footpaths in Feed the Children were attributed to increased crime incidences.
There only being one police post in the whole settlement, caused fear among residents as well as creating tension
among the residents of Mukuru kwa Reuben.
The lack of street lighting increased criminal activities in both villages. The dark lanes and streets in both Feed the
Children village and Railway Villages have emerged as a major trigger effect for crime occurrence.
The coping mechanisms were both social and spatial. Social coping mechanisms were the most common. These in-
cluded neighborhood watch, community policing and forming youth groups for corrective behavior and economic
empowerment. Spatial coping mechanisms were few and mainly in Railway village and these included burglar
proofing doors. Constructing houses doors facing one another, improved housing standards.
Summary of recommendations:
Installation of flood lights in the village to illuminate the streets during the night to enhance safety during the night
Use of building materials that are low cost but affordable that make it harder for criminals to break in. the walls and
doors need to be reinforced with stronger building materials unlike the existing iron sheets and wooden doors.
Developing A site plan for the village include re planning of the structures into two storey buildings which allow for
horizontal space for the alignment of wider footpaths and streets. These streets will then be landscaped with proper
crime prevention designs including street lighting and areas for activity support and for creation of a mixed use space
Establishment pf more police posts and deployment of more police personnel to increase surveillance
The river front and railway reserve will be landscaped to offer safe transit routes for users to and from the village.
Garbage collection initiative and policy directives need to be given within the village to reduce and eventually elimi-
nate the haphazard dumping of solid waste that makes the environment look un-aesthetically pleasing.
A policy directive on the number of allowed pubs should be given and enforced by the village management. These
policies will help eliminate illicit brewers and arrest of perpetrators.
Community policing, neighborhood watch, and community cohesion are social responses that are encouraged in low
income communities since they are not privileged to employ security guards and improved surveillance technologies
Cause Main issue Effect Rapid urbanization rates, poverty
Un-employment Delinquency
Fear
Victimization
Vandalism of property
Increase in crime occur-rences
Lack of development
Continued segregation of residents by outsid-ers
Illicit brewing, lack of regu-lations on alcohol consump-tion
Excessive alcoholism
Moral erosion and neglect from parents
Poor upbringing of children
Monopoly of leadership Corrupt un-integral leaders Failed community policing and neighborhood watch
Poor community cohesion
Lack of an urban planning policy
Congested houses, narrow footpaths,
Lack of crime prevention design in house construction
Lack of natural surveillance, access con-trol
Lack of policies and laws on slum security
Lack of street lighting
Lack of urban planning pol-icy
Deteriorated urban environment
PLANNING IMPLICATIONS: Causes and effects of main problem issues
Effect of foot paths on crime in both Railway and Feed the
Children. The photos show the size of foot paths in Feed
the Children and Railway, respectively.
Feed the Children
Feed the Children
Railway
Railway
Feed the Children village is characterized by crowded small sized
structures arranged in an organic manner. The narrow streets in the
area make it difficult to navigate around the structures thus making it
difficult to run from victimization. On the other hand, Railway is a
newly settled settlement with a grid street pattern which enhances
security space legibility and infrastructure provision. The structure
and street pattern form clusters of uniformly designed streets.
The more organized railway village has fewer crimes related to the
spatial or physical form as compared to feed the children which have
the organic morphology.
Summary of Literature review
Three important theories on crime and its relation to the physical environment were studied and these included broken win-
dow theory (Wilson and Kelling’s 1982), defensible space (Newman, 1972) and CPTED (Jeffery, 1971). These theories link
the rundown quality of the environment in which people live with the negative influence it has on the sense of pride in be-
longing and ownership of their environment, thereby making them less likely to act on both environmental problems and
crime.
The current policy framework in Kenya does not accommodate slum development control due the complexities of slum ex-
istence including the land tenure systems. Thus, the need for a clear urban planning policy that provides for the slum up-
grading programs with the aim to reach target 11 of the MDGs.
Legal and policy framework relevant to the study included: Physical Planning Act, The Kenya Constitution, EMCA, Na-
tional Land Policy, UN Habitat, Kensup, SDI, cities alliance
PLANNING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Development project objectives 1. To take an inventory of the existing site development and condition
2. To review relevant policy, design guidelines and regulations for crime prevention in in-
formal settlements
3. To redevelop Feed the Children village and develop a site plan for the village.
4. To develop the project’s implementation framework by detailing out the development
components, action plans, management framework, monitoring and evaluation frame-
work as well as development control
LOCATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA
INTERVENTION MEASURES
CPTED principle How it will be implemented
Surveillance and visibility; Installation of flood lights 80 meters apart Constructing houses with windows facing the
streets, courtyard and other open spaces
Territoriality and defensible space;
Putting short wall fences with landscaping that allows visibility
Access and escape routes;
Wider streets with primary roads of 6 meters wide and secondary streets of 4.5 meters width
Ensuing no dead end to streets and cul-de-sacs
Image and aesthetics Landscaping Cleaning up the environment Garbage collection strategies Use of building materials that does not dilapidate
Target hardening.
Having small gated communities with boundary walls not higher than 1.5meters
Burglar proofing houses with
Activity support Open commercial activities along the road which
are made wide enough to support both commercial activities and pedestrian activity.
Ngong river flows adja-
cent to the project area.
The river is among the
locations most prone to
criminal activities. It is
used as a transit route to
and from work. They are
mugged and robbed at
this point place, hence
the need to landscape to
improve it aesthetics
A school with a play ground in
Feed the Children. This may be the
only open space available in the
project area. If it remains unkempt
and not secured, it may end up be-
ing a dead space that reinforces
criminal behavior.
Hence the need for beautification,
territoriality, lighting and integra-
tion with existing uses
The residential block (known as structures) are
also a major location for crime occurrence.
Houses are built door to door thus leaves no room
for wider streets that would help in enhanced pas-
sive and active surveillance.
The houses are also built of very permeable build-
ing materials i.e. iron sheets which burglars find
it very easy to break in and commit crime.
The very narrow foot-
paths allow multiple
routes for criminals to
attack the users of the
footpaths.
They also do not offer
support for activities that
would help increase sur-
veillance on the street.
Also the lack of street
lighting has discouraged
the night activities of
most residents which also
increases the surveillance
of the village as well as
enhances safety by deter-
ring criminal activities.
PROJECT PLANNING AND DESIGN
SITE ANALYSIS
PROJECT TITLE: UPGRADING OF FEED THE CHILDREN VILLAGE FOR ENHANCED URBAN SAFETY
PROPOSED MASTER/
SITE PLAN
FRONT ELEVATION OF A BLOCK
B65/38941/2010
KARUGA D WAIRIMU