FASTEST GROWING AREA

HOW DO YOU PLAN FOR THE

IN THE WORLD?

THE ISSUE SCENARIOSthree potential futuresBelow are three potential scenarios for metropolitan development and their consequences for Ruiru.

KEY TRENDS AND CHALLENGES ASSETS KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Receptive municipal council

(Source: Earth Forum, Houston Museum of Natural Science; World Resources Institute data)

Extreme, 5% or more

peri-urbanTransitional zone with unique

sectoral interaction between

both rural and urban functions

Characteristics:

- Unplanned & often informal development

- Lack of infrastructure

- Administrative responsibilities unclear

- Local and regional inequalities intensifi ed

- Limited fertile land divided

PERCENTAGE OF WORKFORCE EMPLOYED IN AGRICULTURE

URBAN GROWTH 2000-2005(Source: SWI Austria)

High, 4% - 5%

Medium, 1% - 4%

Low, under 1%

Over 75%

50 - 75%

25 - 50%

10 - 25%

under 10%

}

(Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects, 1998 Revision)

(Source: Fairfi eld University)

PERCENTAGE OF WORLD LIVING IN URBAN AREAS

Rural

10

8

6

4

2

Thika Rd

0 2.5 5 Miles

Agriculture

Mixed use

Institutional

Industrial

Mixed commercial / residential

Single family housing

Multi-family housing

Thika Rd

0 2.5 5 Miles

Agriculture

Mixed use

Institutional

Industrial

Mixed commercial / residential

Single family housing

Multi-family housing

0

1750

1800

1850

1900

1950

2000

2050

2100

AFRICA

20006.1 billion

Population (in billions)

Lessdeveloped countries

More developed countries

Urban

1950

2000

2030

29.7

47.4

61.1

WORLD POPULATION GROWTH 1750-2150

0 4 8 12 162 MILES

NAIROBI

RUIRU

KENYA

Nairobi city boundariesNairobi metropolitan area Ruiru municipality

NAIROBI METROPOLITAN AREA

Thika Rd

rapid urban growth...The UN estimates that within the next fi ve years, more than half of the world’s population will be living in urban areas. The global population is rapidly increasing and the majority of this growth is occurring in less developed countries.

...in peri-urban areasAfrica is the fastest growing area in the world and predominantly agricultural. The combination of explosive urban growth pushing outward into predominantly rural land has led to a new trend of development on city fringes known as peri-urban areas.

NAIROBI

0 4 8 12 162 MILES

RUIRU

Airport

NAIROBI

Water and Sewage

Road Maintenance

Establishment of Marketing Outlets

Job Creation

Planning and Development Control

Housing

Community development and participation

Refuse Collection (solid waste only)

No

No

No

No

No

Limited

Limited

Limited

Service Responsibilities ofMunicipal Council of Ruiru

Service Rendered

poly-nucleatedIn the poly-nucleated model, Ruiru is one of

many nuclei in the region and has its own

strong self-sustaining economic base

Transportation to support industry and to

provide greater local access for residents

and commercial development

Industrial and commercial base that serves

as a strong contributor to the regional

economy

1

2

mono-nucleatedIn the mono-nucleated model, Ruiru is dominated

by residential uses and dependent upon Nairobi

for jobs and services

Transportation serves primarily commuters

Economic base serves residential population

and does not contribute greatly to the

regional economy

1

2

Agriculture - fertile soil

Commercial

Mixed use

studio goalTo analyze and make a series of select recommendations for the regional planning challenges of Ruiru in the context of the rapidly growing Nairobi metropolitan area

clientRuiru Municipal Council

approach Identify current situation of Ruiru in the metropolitan context Illustrate consequences of current trends Develop strategic sectoral recommendations based on an understanding of current trends, challenges, and opportunities

1

2

3

Industrial

Single family housing

SlumsAgriculture - dry soil

Proposed bypassInstitutional

0 2.5 5 Miles

Thika Rd

Thika Rd

0 2.5 5 Miles

RAPID HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

0

SPRAWL OF INFORMAL MARKETS

RUIRU

LAND USE MAP OF RUIRU MUNICIPALITY

0

study areaRuiru is located 15 miles northeast of Nairobi along a major road.

land use

economy health governancetransportation

NAIROBI

Proximity to Nairobi

Fertile soils, good climate

Location on major road

Future connection to airport

- Lack of capacity

- Physical Planning Act

- Local Government Act

- Uncontrolled subdivision of

plots consuming rich

agricultural land

PUBLIC VS PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF LAND

Public (20%)

Private (80%)

- Agriculture employs 80% of workforce. Few opportunities for poor to enter formal economy.Informal market does not provide tax base

- Lack of relationship between all businesses and municipal council

- Infrastructure constraints hindering productivity: roads/transport, electricity, and water/sanitation

- Inadequate sewage and waste disposal system

- Lack of public health facilities

- Signifi cant air quality issues in relation to transportation emissions. Air quality study fi ndings (433 ug/m3) seven times worse than Mexico City and WHO Standard (65 ug/m3)

- Poor and inadequate road conditions

- Lack of public transportation system. Road infrastructure and existing paratransit system (matatus) offer signifi cant opportunities for effi ciency improvements

- Lack of modal separation. High rates of traffi c mortality and poor pedestrian safety

- Trend toward decentralization. Unclear delineation of responsibility between local, regional and national governments

- Lack of municipal capacity and funding. Lack of community participation in the governance and planning process within Ruiru municipality

- Unauthorized and informal land use

- Rapid subdivision and loss of limited fertile land

- 80% of land privately owned

- Lack of land use enforcement

AIR QUALITY STUDY: PM2.5

unplannedRuiru will suffer from the sprawl of informal

housing and markets, as well as the loss of all

fertile land to housing subdivisions

Strong community

land use - Create land use zoning map

- Develop a site and services program for informal developments

- Design a process to integrate all stakeholders in land use decisions

- Integrate Ruiru land use with Nairobi Metropolitan plan

- Promote mixed-use, higher density development

- Develop multi-sectoral business association

- Incorporate a voluntary, non-voting Business Advisor on municipal council

- Tax incentives for infrastructure provision

- Designate industrial park via land consolidation and infrastructure provision

- Institute a more inclusive policy towards informal development

- Evaluation of Alternative Modes Analysis

- Develop and implement a Matatu Rapid Transit System (MRT)

- Classify and improve local roads

- Encourage community prioritization of local roads

- Develop alternative fuel production, in particular biodiesel cultivation

- Improve conditions of public and private pit-latrines

- Establish a community-led sanitation system

- Future air-quality monitoring

- Develop and fi nance sewage infrastructure

- Enhance community participation to increase accountability and

transparency

- Increase information dissemination, knowledgesharing and networking

- Provide monitoring, evaluation and community feedback regarding

municipal programs

- Create Rights Accord between Council and community

transportation

health

economy

governance

studentsMonica Bansal, Alyssa Boyer, Candy Chang, Kay Cheng, Leticia Crispin, Reuel Daniels, Jen Graeff, Beth Helton, Lily Langlois, Ryan Walsh, Eleanne van Vliet

faculty & supportElliott Sclar, Sumila Gulyani, Christie Marcella, Sigurd Grava, Julie Touber, Nicole Volavka, Patrick Kinney, Mike Reilly, University of Nairobi Department of Urban and Regional Planning

poly-nucleated metropolitan development

POTENTIAL FUTURE OF RUIRU

- Strengthen municipal independence and economic value of Ruiru

- Environmental improvement

- Equitable access to opportunities

- Ruiru both a contributor and an asset to the metropolitan region