The Complex Landscape of Urban and Physical Planning in Kenya
Kenya’s higher education system is witnessing a growing divide among graduates, particularly those in urban and physical planning. Thousands of students are finding themselves at a crossroads, unable to secure membership with professional bodies due to the rigid structures that govern these fields. Despite amendments to parliamentary acts aimed at accommodating emerging disciplines, gatekeepers remain steadfast in preserving the status quo, raising questions about the legitimacy of university senates and their role in offering non-harmonized courses.
Nairobi, Technical, Maseno, and Kenyatta Universities have long held a monopoly on recognition within the domain of registered physical planners. This has led to a situation where graduates from these institutions emerge as urban planners but are only registered as physical planners. Meanwhile, those who graduate specifically as physical planners must pursue postgraduate studies in urban studies to gain recognition. This discrepancy has sparked contention among other universities, such as Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Massai Mara University, African Nazarene University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University.
These institutions argue that their programs in non-built environments—such as land resource planning and management, land use planning, geography, agriculture, and spatial and natural resource planning—are recognized by the Commission for University Education. These curricula are designed to equip students with the skills necessary to address complex issues in land management, cultivating physical planners and policy managers adept in land use planning across both private and public sectors.
The regulator has been criticized for its preferential treatment of graduates from built environment schools, while those from non-built environments face additional requirements to enhance their qualifications. Despite support from key funders like the United Nations, the European Union, and the Government of Kenya, gatekeeping remains a significant barrier, ensuring that urban land use professionals retain authority over registration processes.
The 18th annual planners’ conference in Mombasa highlighted the theme of ‘Planning towards sustainable food systems and ecosystems management,’ while this year’s 19th regional convention focused on ‘Transformative planning for people, land and country.’ These themes reflect a growing emphasis on planning that extends beyond urban contexts, encompassing all eight known land uses.
Urban planning in Kenya has evolved significantly since the enactment of the Parliamentary Physical Planning Act in 1996, which regulated planning within city councils and municipalities. The establishment of the Physical Planner’s Board in the same year allowed for the regulation of urban planners’ induction and registration. Subsequent legislation, such as the Urban Areas and Cities Act in 2011 and the Physical and Land Use Planning Act in 2019, has expanded the scope of planning to include non-built environments.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. The process for an urban or town planner to be accredited as a lead expert in environmental and physical planning is relatively straightforward, yet the reverse scenario remains unattainable. This disparity has led to significant loopholes, resulting in the loss of green spaces like Karura Forest and Ngong Forest to land fragmentation.
Agricultural land use, a critical component of Kenya’s landscape, is contracting due to factors such as rapid urbanization, land subdivision, and climate change. Urban planners often fail to provide adequate guidance, sometimes exacerbating the problem by promoting further subdivisions.
Counties across Kenya, including those in sugar belts, tea and coffee zones, and cotton-growing areas, would benefit from the engagement of qualified professionals from natural resource planning. Similarly, counties hosting wildlife conservancies should collaborate with natural space planners to achieve sustainable development amidst competing interests.
Resource-rich areas, such as those abundant in minerals and natural resources, could greatly benefit from the expertise of natural resource planners. The National Assembly plays a crucial role in enacting legislation that safeguards these planners from the dominance of urban planners in key decision-making bodies.
In conclusion, the integration of science and arts is essential to devise solutions that guide the harmonious management of interactions between built and non-built environments. The writer highlights the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to planning, ensuring that all stakeholders are involved in shaping Kenya’s future.
