Implementation of Urban Development Plans in Kenya: Gaps and Needs of Implementing the Nairobi Integrated Urban Master Plan (Niuplan)

Abstract

Although urbanization can be a huge catalyst of urban development, it is oftentimes associated with various challenges such as informal settlements, inadequate services, unemployment, congestion and environmental degradation. Urban planning, alongside other disciplines, is a vital tool in any real attempt at effective urban management, as it essentially provides a framework for decision making as far as urban development is concerned whilst using space as a key resource. Plan implementation justifies planning efforts without which they remain void and unfruitful. If understood from a dynamic perspective, implementation is unpredictable; it is cyclical rather than linear; and involves a process of constant interaction between plan/policy formators and executors as opposed to being a final outcome. As a result changing one thing may lead to changing many others and thus implementation success is not measured by the conformance of outcomes to objectives, but rather by the performance of the plan in directing development decisions on a day to day basis. By means of a case study strategy, this study endeavored to establish the gaps and needs of implementing urban development plans in Kenya. The Nairobi Integrated Urban Master Plan (NIUPLAN) was used as the case study. The study found that a framework for successful plan implementation hinges on policy, agency and environment based factors. It further established that the issues of implementing plans in Kenya cut across the board. Policy issues included internal inconsistency, ineffective public participation and inadequate linkage with budgeting tools namely CIDPs. Agency based issues included the lack of institutions charged by law with implementation responsibilities. Inadequacy of funds, inadequate staff, low technical competence and motivation as well as the absence of M&E mechanisms were also identified. Environmental based issues included land disputes and incomplete land registry. Furthermore, the legally-binding status of urban plans is not enforced which leads to the relegation of plan provisions to political priorities in guiding urban development. Political interference in revenue collection and land grabbing were other notable issues. In line with this, recommendations were made as it emerged that the better the plan making process, institutional frameworks and implementation contexts, the better chances there are of successful plan implementation and performance.