Role of Communications in Environmental Policy Implementation in Kenyan Urban Set-ups: a Case Study of Luthuli Avenue Expansion Programme in Nairobi City County

Abstract

Public communication is defined in this study as the duty of the government to enlighten the populace, pay attention to their concerns, and act in their best interests. Political communication, on the other hand, is associated with partisan debate, elections, or specific political individuals and parties. The absence of clear models to implement communication strategies in Kenya’s county governments has significantly undermined the efforts towards bridging policy and science. Environmental Policy Formulation (EPF) and implementation remains a critical yet complex process among local governments and organizations globally. Successful policy implementation requires a strategic approach to dealing with perceptions and reactions from members of local communities. Policy making occurs in stormy political, social, and economic environments as effected from emerging trends, issues, and high level political and international events such as the COP 15 and COP 27. Explaining the gaps between science and policy remains a low-key topic following scarcity of information, mis and dis-information between local governments, environmental organizations, and public. Data for this study was collected from Nairobi City County Government (NCC) using self-administered questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews and focus groups’ discussions with staff from the county government, policy organizations involved with the Luthuli Avenue Expansion Programme (LAEP) and Nairobi residents concluded the data collection phase. This included a sample of 10 county officials and 10 policymakers in Kenya working on specific projects with the NCC. A focus group discussion involving 15 persons’ views from 10 local businesspersons operating in Luthuli Avenue including boda-boda riders, taxi operators, hawkers and exhibition vendors was taken into consideration. A descriptive study research design was adopted, where the content analysis was used to analyse data collected from open ended questions of mixed method nature. The presentation was done using frequency and percentage scores in a tabular format. This work applied the Participation Theory provided a clear guide in investigating whether the LAEP which NCC worked with implementing parties involved local communities as a step toward the realization of self-reliant sustainable development. In addition, organizations should create value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders as R. Edward Freeman (1984) provides direction in his Stakeholder Theory to question the capacity of public involvement in the implementation of LAEP. This study focused on how communications and environmental policy needs to be shaped to work together for public’s effective consumption, participation in implementation of environmental policies in providing a realistic role, relevance, and guidance towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.