A new devolved system of government in Kenya has recently established counties as distinct units of governance and development. The Constitution of Kenya – 2010 under the fourth Schedule and the County Government Act 2012 in part XI on County Planning, requires the new County governments to operate under a county planning framework that shall integrate economic, physical, social, environmental and spatial planning, to prepare county integrate development plans (CIDPs). Yet, the government has not provided guidelines on how to prepare such CIDPs.

27-29 November 2013

There is urgent need to improve urban planning, management and livability in African cities. From 27-29 November 2013, UNCRD Africa Office, in partnership with UN-HABITAT Centre for Cities, organized a Forum for African Mayors and Senior Urban Officials on Sustainable Urban Development and Management in Nairobi, UN Complex. UNCRD and UN-Habitat have pledged to support African mayors and senior urban officials to implement many of the social, environmental and economic goals and objectives that were highlighted atthe World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, Chinaas well as those agreed at Rio+20.

Long term residents of Kiliman/kileleshwa/kangemi in Nairobi have recently watched their neighborhood slid towards decay. Kilimani for many years one of Nairobi’s quiet leafy neighborhoods has not been spared of on-going unplanned transformation towards mixed use densification. With the construction of more commercial buildings in the area the long-term residents of Kilimani area started to realize how fast their neighborhood was changing, their personal space shrinking gradually as more socio-economic activities encroached into the area, culminating into insecurity fears. In addition to the insecurity,