The Africa Urban Lab (AUL), led by Urban Development Consultant Richard Martin, paid a courtesy call to the Uasin Gishu County Government to deliberate on strategies to empower the City of Eldoret to achieve smarter urban growth.
The visit is part of AUL’s Urban Expansion and the Periphery (UXP) Program, an initiative that equips governments and communities with practical planning tools to manage rapid urbanisation and promotes smarter, more orderly urban growth across Africa.
Speaking during a meeting presided by CECM Land and Urban Development, Edward Sawe, the AUL Urban Development Consultant, reiterated that through the program’s five-step approach, which is; Predict, Control, Preserve, Plan, and Protect, cities are supported to forecast growth, identify expansion areas, conserve sensitive land, design road networks, and safeguard public infrastructure before development occurs.
According to Martin, this approach is designed to improve mobility, expand access to essential services, and drive sustainable urban development.
Key areas of focus include urban planning, city management, GIS, land management, economic planning, and environmental management.
CECM Sawe welcomed the empowerment, saying that partnerships such as this are critical to aligning local priorities with national and continental urban development goals.
On his part, Eldoret City Deputy Director of Administration and Planning, Francis Chirchir, welcomed the partnership, saying it will enhance Eldoret City’s planning capacity and support inclusive, sustainable growth. He reaffirmed the city’s commitment to strategic partnerships that improve planning and service delivery.
Other officials present included Dr Joe Akech, former Nairobi Mayor and Africa Urban Lab Lead; Humphrey Otieno; Jackton Kiprop – Director of Urban Development; and Charles Kimani – Director of Physical Planning.
The UXP Program aims to roll out new urban expansion projects in African cities over the next three years while strengthening local governments’ capacity to plan for future growth.
By Jevvah Kiplimo
