Informalization and Management of Street Use in Downtown Nairobi.

Abstract

Kenyan urban centres are experiencing exponential transformation from the proliferation of informal activities. Most literature has noted that informality is a result of rapid urbanization which is not accompanied by proportionate economic growth. Lack of formal employment has therefore, triggered the mushrooming of informal activities in almost all the vacant spaces within the urban area. These informal activities accommodate the skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled and therefore, are the life-stream of many low-income city dwellers; they provide homes, sources of livelihood, and facilitate affordable transportation modes and therefore are important part of the economy. However, while these activities are an integral part of many households, their spatial significance and impact to the well-being of the city has not been established. This study focuses on the two informal activities (bus termini and vending) that affect the general use of Tom Mboya Street as a case study. It assesses the nature of the informal activities, the causes and effects of informalization of street use with the aim of recommending management strategies for integrating them within the city scape and at the same time ensuring the effective street use. Through the analysis of various global best practices/ responses and the Kenyan policies and legal responses to informal enterprises, this study identifies legal exclusion of the informal enterprises as the main hindrances to the spatial integration of these activities. Other factors include lack of political good will, weak urban governance, weak policy framework, and the incapacity of urban planning and management institutions to address the issues of informality. The main recommendations from this study were aimed at providing legal spatial guidelines for effective management of informal business activities as well as improving the quality of the services they provide. These recommendations included short term measures such as creating an enabling environment for informal businesses (regulated licensing fees and recognition of informal activities as important part of the economy), proposing alternative appropriate locations for these activities within downtown and where they minimally affect the effective flow of traffic along the streets as well as introducing amenities that improve their operations. Long-term measures included the preparation of development/ redevelopment plan for the town that include designated areas for informal activities which can only be achieved through extensive consultations with all the stakeholders, especially the informal business operators. The study also recommends mainstreaming informal business activities in spatial planning and design of urban plans