Impacts of University Location on Rural Neighborhood Land Use a Case of Kenya Methodist University Main Campus in Meru County

Abstract

University education in Kenya has experienced phenomenal growth which has not been in tandem with the physical growth of the Universities thus causing a strain on the physical infrastructure of the universities and a spill-over effect into their neighborhoods. Further, it is not clear how the location of the universities has impacted the immediate neighborhood as far as land use and spatial development is concerned. This study was carried out to determine the current land use characteristics and development pattern of KEMU neighborhood, examine how land use change has occurred in KEMU neighborhood in the last fifteen years, determine the socio-economic impacts of KEMU on its neighborhood over the past fifteen years and propose spatial planning interventions for organized development of KEMU neighborhood. Review of literature was done to collect secondary data. Primary data was collected through face to face interviews with 80 landlords and 80 tenants using semi-structured questionnaires. Additional data was collected from key informant through interviews. Other methods used included mapping, observation, photography and focused group discussions. Landsat TM images of the study area were analyzed diachronically on spatial growth trends and on time-space development. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS and Excel software. The results indicated that the leading land uses in the study area were residential, commercial and transportation. Other notable ones were recreational and educational uses. Agricultural land use was the dominant land use prior to the establishment and growth of KEMU University main campus within the locality. The dominant house typology was bungalows (39%) closely followed by flats of 1 and 2 bedrooms (31%), maisonettes (16%) and bedsitters (14%). Considering height, majority of the buildings were one storey (79%) followed by non-storey buildings (14%) and two storey ones (7%). Vegetation cover had reduced by 16% while the built-up area had increased by 13%. There was no significant change in forest cover. Major benefits from land use change included more business opportunities (65%), growth of more and better physical infrastructure (12%) and improved transport networks (16%). Negative impacts included increased security risk (42%), loss of privacy (7%) and increased pollution (7%). Property values improved by 19 times within a radius of 1 km and 16.5 times within 2 km. radius. This agrees with the central place theory. Establishment and expansion of KEMU main campus was the major contributor to the shift in land uses within the study area. However, there is disorganized development and in-efficient utilization of the land resource due to lack of a zonal spatial plan for the neighborhood. The study recommends formulation, implementation and enforcement of such a plan with sufficient attention on security of the neighborhood in the design aspects of the plan. It also recommends deliberate integration of the student population and the neighborhood population for harmony in their relationships.