Nakuru County Government is implementing an ambitious strategy to guide the planning, growth, and development of its urban areas to enable them reach their full potential, regardless of their size or location.
The devolved unit has announced that it is supporting the development of Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plan (ISUDP) and comprehensive County Spatial Plan (CSPs) while actively establishing a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) towards improving resource management for data-driven urban planning and development.
Governor Susan Kihika affirmed the need to be strategic in planning physical developments like transportation, healthcare, education, and housing to align with the comprehensive plans.
Kihika stated that the development plans provided a framework for balanced development, modernized agriculture, appropriate infrastructure, diversified tourism, and sustainable human settlements within the devolved unit.
The County boss made the remarks during an induction workshop on urban planning and development held at a Nakuru hotel for urban board members drawn from Naivasha, Gilgil and the City Board municipalities and the County’s Affordable Housing Committee.
While underscoring the urgent need to realign the County’s priorities to focus on long-term planning and development investments to secure sustainable urban futures, Kihika indicated that effective implementation of comprehensive County Spatial Plans and other levels of plans would significantly improve county’s ability to manage land use effectively, prepare for urbanization, and address pressing environmental concerns.
The Governor pointed out that her administration’s implementation of Strategic Urban Development Plans and County Spatial Plans was in compliance with various legal frameworks such as the National Building Code, 2024, which relies on zoning for health and safety standards, pollution control, and green building initiatives.
“We must also always remain alive to the fact that lack of updated plans jeopardizes strategic infrastructure investments and undermines sustainable development efforts. The absence of up-to-date urban plans can result in widespread issues, including urban encroachment, overstretching of existing infrastructure, and environmental degradation,” she observed.
The Governor emphasized the critical role of municipal boards as vision bearers for local development. She highlighted their responsibility in ensuring efficient service delivery, inclusive planning, and sustainable urban growth.
Kihika noted that Naivasha, with its thriving hospitality and tourism sectors was being positioned to become a resort city while Njoro and Mau Narok are poised for transformation through the upcoming County Aggregated Industrial Park, which she said would drive value addition in agriculture and boost local economies.
She applauded the boards for key initiatives already underway including cabro paving of streets, urban greening, and clearing of storm-water drainage systems — efforts aimed at improving the aesthetic and livability of Nakuru’s urban spaces.
“My administration will in due course duplicate Urban Forums in Gilgil, Molo, Nakuru and Naivasha where key stakeholders will be involved in shaping their urban areas and their future. I call on board members to uphold transparency, accountability and good governance. Well-functioning boards are essential for delivering lasting impact in urban development,” she further said.
The members were equipped with key knowledge areas, including urban planning frameworks, land management, digitization of development approvals, and the formation of strong partnerships for resource mobilization.
Governor Kihika stated that the induction marked a major step in empowering the boards to effectively implement the County’s long-term vision for modern, inclusive, and sustainable urban centres.
She added that the development of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) which includes the setting up of a Geographic Information System (GIS) lab is expected to streamline the administration of development projects and enhance resource allocation based on data analysis.
The Governor disclosed that the SDI is being designed to play a crucial role in various sectors, including infrastructure planning, natural resource management and disaster response.
Highlighting the transformative power of the GIS component in the SDI and its critical role in urban planning, tackling encroachments, and in promoting public feedback, Kihika said she was hopeful that the GIS laboratory system would improve development planning and management.
The GIS lab is expected to provide a platform to store and manage digital footprint of development projects in sectors such as water, education, health, roads, rangelands, environment and natural resources.
She elaborated that the GIS laboratory system would further help local and foreign investors to conveniently access land information.
While noting that setting up of the Spatial Data Infrastructure was is in line her manifesto to digitize access to some essential services to shorten the time and reduce the cost of access to services, the Governor indicated that the system would help them collect, process and analyze data in digital form.
In June last year, representatives from the World Bank met with officials from the County Lands and Physical Planning Department and the State Department of Housing and Urban Development for an engagement session to assess the Geospatial data needs and potential support areas within the Municipal Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI).
Kihika pointed out that the initiative aims to address challenges related to data duplication, improve resource management, and facilitate effective governance.
“We aim to provide better access to spatial data, reducing wastage and duplication. By providing a standardized approach to data management, we make more informed decisions. The initiative promotes the production and sharing of spatial data for sustainable development,” she elaborated.
Clause 105 (f) of the County Government Act 2012 requires county governments to establish GIS-based database systems for provision of data in the development of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).
The technology is important for decision making during planning and allocation of resources for the Annual Development Plan (ADP).
Kihika noted that in Africa, geospatial technology is necessary because the continent still faces numerous challenges such as unplanned settlements, degraded rangelands, inadequate or unplanned infrastructure, low quality of development projects, poor monitoring systems, mushrooming of new settlements and inequitable resource allocation due to lack of appropriate tools for decision making.
“We have resolved to use GIS technology cognizant of these challenges and the need to streamline monitoring of development projects and ensure equitable resource allocations based on evidence,” the Governor explained.
GIS uses location-based data collected via satellites, paper maps, and directly from the field through mobile positioning devices to map out resources for analysis and decision-making.
Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) has been hailed as critical in helping the county government undertake prudent management and allocation of resources while also facilitating rational decision-making processes.
SDI can identify areas in dire need of road connection or department that requires urgent support in terms of funding among other things.
It can also be used to enhance various social amenities such as schools, social amenities such as schools, hospitals, dispensaries and markets.
The system could also help streamline the budgeting process and give evidence-based development needs to the people, thereby attracting support from development partners according to the official.
Participants at the induction workshop were taken through a five-year strategic plan whose overall goal is to come up with ideas on how to make the devolved unit’s urban areas more resilient, functional and efficient.
The City Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (CSP) is expected to provide a roadmap for building towns that are not only environmentally sustainable but also equitable and inclusive.
According to City Manager Mr. Gitau Thabanja, the Strategic Plan was a robust framework that would guide a people-centered development model in the face of trends impacting on them such as population growth, demographic shifts and increasing risk of disasters induced by climate change.
“The Strategic Plan will address current challenges and anticipate future ones. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without proper urban planning. We need to significantly change the way we build and manage open spaces,” stated Thabanja.
He said the five-year plan is further being designed to harness opportunities for sustainable urban development while focusing on crucial aspects of infrastructure development, economic revitalization, social improvement, environmental sustainability and improved governance.
While indicating that Governor Kihika’s administration was working on reforms to reinvigorate the region’s urban development as well as develop financing models that could attract local investors to fund urban infrastructure projects, the City Manager highlighted the need for innovative strategies and robust implementation mechanisms to translate the plan’s objectives into tangible outcomes.
He said the devolved unit’s administration was also creating and enforcing policies that promote sustainable urban development and provide incentives for green initiatives.
The official explained that the goal of the Strategic Plan was to ensure that Nakuru had ‘smart’ sustainable urban centers that have adequate services such as water, electricity, a functional transport system and proper waste management.
Thabanja disclosed that the county would continue embracing private sector investments where city finance or jurisdictional flexibility is limited.
He observed that commercial investors have the required capital and investment mandates to contribute significantly to developing critical urban climate infrastructure.
“We are committed to being enablers and mobilizers of the private sector. We will continue identifying and sharing potential project opportunities and streamline regulatory and permit processes to enable smoother deployment of private capital into projects,” added the official.
While indicating that the policy document aims to create a vibrant and inclusive urban environment that enhances the quality of life and fosters economic prosperity, Thabanja noted that there was a need for structured connection between the National Environment and Management Authority (Nema), National Construction Authority (NCA) and the county government approval processes.
He affirmed that Governor Kihika’s administration was creating a strong integration of spatial planning, social and economic development and environmental protection as provided for in the County Governments Act.
The policy document, Thabanja explained, was also an institutional development strategy aimed at institutionalizing a plan-led system of development. This means that all public investments and approvals of land development by the private sector must be aligned to urban development plans and policies.
The devolved unit, according to the official, had in place clear guidelines and regulations on public participation to facilitate people-centred planning.
“Structured involvement of neighbourhood or residents’ associations and other stakeholders gives a sense of ownership of the planning process and promotes planning as a tool in delivering public good and attaining equitable development,” he added.
By Jane Ngugi
