Options for Land Acquisition to Accommodate Missing Urban Infrastructure in Kenya:

Lessons from Case Reviews

Abstract

Worldwide, sustainable urban development depends on planning systems that integrate public infrastructure within urban land-use frameworks. However, unregulated market development and exclusionary planning practices have produced infrastructure-deficient settlements in many countries of the Global South, particularly Kenya. This study examines options for land acquisition and infrastructure provision in already developed settlements where land is privately owned and retrospective planning is difficult. The study adopted a qualitative comparative case study methodology based on desk review of planning literature, policies, statutes, and international case studies. Historical and comparative analyses were used to examine the European reconstruction experience, the American incremental planning model, and Tanzania’s Kupanga, Kupima na Kuhalalisha (KKK) model. Findings indicate that no single universal model can resolve infrastructure deficiencies in already developed settlements. However, the reviewed cases demonstrate the importance of strong state intervention, participatory planning, incremental redevelopment, and effective development control systems in addressing infrastructure deprivation in Kenyan towns.