City seeks world class status with new master plan

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero addresses the Nairobi County Assembly in the past. Nairobi is on the path to joining the league of world class cities after a new city master plan was approved July 22, 2014. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said the approval paved the way for a new phase in the city’s development.
  • The first master plan for Nairobi was developed in 1898 during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway. The second and the third were drafted in 1948 and 1973.

Nairobi is on the path to joining the league of world class cities after a new city master plan was approved Tuesday.

The Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (Niuplan) will replace the existing one that was formulated more than 40 years ago.

It proposes expansion of the city’s road network, development of a railway metropolis and creation of a new landfill to replace the Dandora dumping site, which surpassed its capacity 13 years ago.

Stake holders consisting of Nairobi residents, universities, corporations, researchers and international groups yesterday endorsed the proposed plan at a validation forum held at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies.

NEW PHASE

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero said the approval paved the way for a new phase in the city’s development.

“After today, my office will embark on crafting a Master Plan Implementation Bill to be presented to the county assembly by September for enactment into law,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by Planning and Housing County executive Tom Odongo.

Dr Kidero said the new plan was the first that was developed through a participatory and inclusive process.

The first master plan for Nairobi was developed in 1898 during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda railway. The second and the third were drafted in 1948 and 1973.

Niuplan will be the property of the Nairobi City County, although it was developed with the assistance of the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Jica Kenya Representative Hideo Eguchi said the blue print was developed through contribution of various interest groups.

“Since the birth of this plan in 2012, we have held about 68 annual stake holder meetings to come up with the best plan possible,” he said.

The county government formed six thematic groups to work with the agency.