Abstract
Ineffective planning and implementation problems of urban residential plan in Umoja 1 have undermined the development of sustainable and livable urban community in line with the principles of affordable housing for eco-cities. Consequently, ex post measures designed to guide urban planning and implementation in the community have failed. Multi-story apartments are built in the community although these are not provided for in Umoja 1 residential comprehensive development plan. The project has failed to achieve its objective of building sustainable residential community due to several problems. For one, the planned capacity of roads and streets, water supply and sewerage disposal facilities can no longer cope with the new developments and/or those that result from unauthorized alterations of the original semi-detached units. Poor maintenance has degraded the roads and streets while social spaces are allocated and developed into private property. Chronic water shortage and periodic sewerage spills are common malaise in the community. Overstretched water supply and poor sewerage disposal systems have also exacerbated the problem. All these problems have severely altered the physical, ecological and social character of the community. Lack of consultation and participation of affected interest groups in implementation is one of the factors that have undermined sustainable urban development in the community. This chapter examines Umoja 1 residential plan and the challenges of plan implementation process. It focuses on factors that undermine sustainable development from eco-city perspective.
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Notes
- 1.
The views expressed here are the authors’ own and not necessarily those of the United Nations Centre for Regional Development.
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Kumssa, A., Mwangi, I.K. (2011). Challenges of Sustainable Urban Development: The Case of Umoja 1 Residential Community in Nairobi City, Kenya. In: Wong, TC., Yuen, B. (eds) Eco-city Planning. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0383-4_9
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