Kenya Urbanization Review

This Kenya urbanization review takes a
deep look at Kenya’s urbanization process. It provides
initial policy options in several key areas including
housing and basic services, land use and transport,
planning, subnational finance, and local economic
development. These are not the only areas of concern for
Kenya’s urban practitioners and policy makers. But they were
identified as areas for more in-depth study during initial
stakeholder consultations and as key priorities in
consultations with government experts. It is hoped that the
Review will serve to raise understanding of the important
opportunity that urbanization presents for the country,
informing policy makers and interested parties alike and
expanding dialogue on Kenya’s urbanization. The review is
laid out in three parts. The first looks at some of the
demographic, economic, and spatial trends of Kenya’s urban
areas (chapter one). The second describes the challenges or
threats to a smooth urban transition: large, growing
informality and inequality within and between urban areas,
in three categories of access (chapters two, three, and
four). The third examines the modern institutions needed to
address the challenges head on and to ensure that Kenya’s
cities have the opportunity to serve as true drivers of
economic growth (chapters five, six, and seven).