Raila: African cities not ready for urban crisis

• Raila says cities must find ways to accommodate rising populations as a result of people moving out of rural areas.
• Over 6.5 billion people are expected to live in world cities by 2030 and in the next 50 years
• Bahrain’s PM Sheikh Said el Khalifa said developing countries should be supported in putting up relevant urbanisation programmes

African cities are not ready to tackle the problems arising from rapid urbanisation, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said.

Mr Odinga said this was a grim reality that must make cities find ways to accommodate rising populations as a result of people moving out of rural areas.

The Prime Minister was addressing a UN Habitat World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China on Monday. China’s Vice Preident Zhang De Jiang officially opened the ceremony.

The UN gave Nanjing a "Special Citation and Honour Award" for its innovativeness in harmonizing its old and modern civilizations and for pursuing sustainable urbanization.

The Prime Minister said world cities must be prepared to accommodate everyone in a harmonious setting, in reference to the Forum’s theme “Harmonious Cities”.

Over 6.5 billion people are expected to live in world cities by 2030 and in the next 50 years, over two-thirds of the world's population will be in the towns.

“Farming in rural Africa is becoming less attractive as rains and arable land become scarce”, the PM told the forum attended by delegates from all over the world.

Kenya has the largest number of African delegates, mainly youths who concluded the World Youth and Sports Forum on Sunday while the PM is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government Musalia Mudavadi, Soita Shitanda, James Orengo and Attorney General Amos Wako.

Others in the delegation are Assistant ministers, Permanent Secretaries and officials from relevant ministries. Four mayors are also attending.

Speaking at the forum, Bahrain’s Prime Minister Sheikh Said el Khalifa said developing countries should be supported in putting up relevant urbanization programmes

He cited Burkina Farso’s “Green Brigade” programme for being a model in best practices in cities.

Phillipine Vice President De Castro said human greed and the race to go beyond previous income records had led to the destruction of towns while the Governor of Jiang Su Province and the Mayor of Nanjin called for the improvement of ecological and living environment.

UN Habitat Executive Director Dr. Anna Tabijuka commended China for completed the ultra modern UN Convention Hall in nanjing in record time.

She said urgent measures must be taken to give accommodation to the world 1.2 billion slum dwellers.

Also present at the meeting which ends on Wednesday was former President of Mozambique Joachim Chisano.