The Effects of Informal Urban Sprawl on the Provision of Infrastructure in Makongeni Neighbourhood of Thika Municipality, Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

In Africa, rapid urban growth continues to pose adverse challenges to development planning and management. Previous studies have established that informal urban sprawl is a common phenomenon in Kenya’s urban areas, including Thika. Undesirable patterns observed in the urban areas include poor land use connectivity, land use conflicts, long traffic jams, poor civic designs, poor drainage systems, and increased slum settlements. However, there is no consensus on what causes informal urban sprawl. Therefore, this research project analyzed why informal urban sprawl occurs in the Thika municipality; its effects on the provision of infrastructure in the Makongeni neighbourhood; coping strategies, and planning options to address the informal sprawl and improve infrastructure provision. The study used a stratified random sampling technique to gather data from households and developers, and purposive sampling to collect data from government offices. The researcher applied both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques and presented the data in tabular, graphical, and report formats. From the findings of the study, uncontrolled development has engulfed planned urban extensions in the study area in the last four decades. Investigation into the types of development in the Makongeni neighbourhood revealed that majority (63.4%) are multi-dwelling residential buildings. The compliance level to development control guidelines such as the minimum land size, maximum ground coverage, plot ratio and setbacks is 62.88%. The key drivers of informal sprawl are ineffective planning, ineffective implementation of plans, inadequate enforcement of development control standards, non-compliance to development control standards, and traditional land tenure systems that bypassed planning processes. As a result, uncontrolled development has led to congestion on roads, road user conflicts, insufficient water and sewer connectivity, as well as inadequate housing, health facilities, and public schools. Residents have adopted different coping mechanisms, such as using bodabodas to avoid traffic jams and digging boreholes to access water. To address informal urban sprawl and its effects on the provision of infrastructure, the study proposes; the nationalization of development rights, developing policies for the transfer of development rights, compulsory acquisition of land, innovative financing, and adopting Smart Growth strategies. The study recommends further study on the economic benefits and costs of informal urban sprawl and the suitability of development control standards in secondary cities in Kenya