| dc.description.abstract | In the twentieth century; three basic models of city
structure have been accepted by scholars as being representative of land use patterns in most cities of the western world.
These models are (1) the Concentric Zone Model; (2) the Radial
Sector Model; and (3) the Multiple Nuclei Model., As the
cities grow, the arrangement of land uses that conform$ to
the stipulations of these models has been mainly the result of
processes that affect land as an economic commodity and land
uses within each city. Many scholars have tested empirically
the operation of these models in America, Western Europe, and
other parts of the world. Land use patterns in most cities
have conformed with expectations of the models or exhibit some
elements of the model~.
An examination of the city structure of Nairobi, Kenya
reveals a hierarchy of land use patterns that resemble the
model. The structure of the Nairobi CBD has a strong resemblance to the theoretical expectations of the Concentric Zone
Model. The land use pattern in the older a~d most intensively
developed area of the city is. sectoral, while the spatial
arrangement of specialized service~centers within the current
city boundary has a Multiple Nuclei appearance.
A question arises, however, as to whether or not
Nairobi I S land use patterns are mostly affected by economic
forces or by the central government and local authorities having jurisdiction over the city throughout its history. To examine this problem this study investigated the impact of
government and local authority policies and actions on land
use in the city since it was founded in 1899. The data base
drew upon major documents related to land use policy decisions,
government policies and plans that have affected the city's
land; and impacts of each major policy" law, and administrative action It was found that the central g9vernment and local
agencies have significantly influenced the land use pattern
in Nairobi through their policies and actions. The existing
land use patterns are mainly the result of policies
and actions.The economic organization of land use as stipulated in the theories of city structure has t~ace only
to a limited extent in Nairobi It has operated within
definite policy and legal frameworks designed by the governmental authorities. These frameworks have restrained the
operation of economic forces and have limited the tendency for
these forces to influence the ,spatial pattern of land use
within the city. Consequently, land use patterns in Nairobi
that resemble the' classical city structure models are mainly
coincidental and are not the results of the urban land market
mechanism within Na!~obi.
The spatial patterns of .land uses within the City of
Nairobi should not be used literally as examples of the,
effects of economic forces on city structures. The.
be cited analogously, and with many qualifications when demonstrating the nature of land use in urban areas . | |
