The authorities should build proper roads and improve sanitation and utilities in the slum areas.
As more people move to the urban centres in search of greener pastures, especially jobs, and many others are born in the towns, the authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to provide essential facilities and amenities and enhance services. However, the allure of the towns and cities is irresistible and, therefore, a large number of people end up living in squalid conditions.
Rural-urban migration is driven by the promise of economic opportunity that often outpaces a town’s capacity to support its growing population. The demand for clean water, reliable electricity, waste management, and sewage systems quickly exceeds the existing capacities.
A lack of affordable housing forces real estate prices up, leaving low-income earners with fewer formal options, hence the proliferation of slums. Today, more than 30 per cent of the country’s population is urban, and it is increasing.
Experts attending the Smart Cities Conference in Nairobi have called for the enforcement of development standards to ensure that any investments respond to the residents’ needs. We could not agree more with them that every new road should make a town easier to navigate.
To bridge the gap between irresistible urban growth and the quality of life, governments and urban planners often focus on several core strategies. They include developing secondary towns and rural economic hubs to reduce the pressure on major towns and cities.
The authorities should build proper roads and improve sanitation and utilities in the slum areas. The government is also seeking to attract investment in special economic zones, green infrastructure, and to promote public-private partnerships.
The people should be involved in deciding what their towns need, including green spaces, sports facilities, waste management, water infrastructure and digital connectivity. The country should strengthen its urban planning institutions to keep pace with the growing demand for infrastructure and essential services as the urban centres expand.
