The Importance of Stakeholder Participation in African Urbanization

According to the World Bank (2015) Africa’s urbanization rate has surpassed other parts of the world and it is believed that by 2030, over 50% of Africans will reside in Urban Centres. Kenya is among the African counties that has experienced a tremendous increase in her urban population. This is most visible in the capital, the primate city of Nairobi. The growth has led to increased pressure on basic needs like housing, transport, water, education and security. Coupled with unequal economic development and social benefits, the result has been the tremendous expansion of informal sectors across areas. To respond to some of this pressure, the central government has vowed initiate large projects in housing , transport, water and others (Republic of Kenya, 2018). Newly enacted legislation also provides for the establishment of multi-sectoral urban boards to oversee the delivery of some services. Among the major projects coming up include Affordable Housing schemes and Mass Rapid Transport investments such as Bus Rapid Transit and expanded commuter rail systems. However, experience from the past both in Nairobi and other Cities has taught us the importance of inclusion, empathy and participation in such projects. Recent times have shown that public projects tend to ignore these and other key elements leading to massive failure of investment. The paper looks into case studies from similar projects in other parts of Africa, in particular Bus Rapid Transit Projects in Lagos, Dar es Salaam and South African Cities; past Slum Upgrading and Housing Projects in Nairobi and other parts of the continent. The research methods also involves data collection on inclusion and participation from those who are affected directly by these proposed projects as well as the impacts that previous projects have had. The paper also dwells slightly in the new upsurge of ‘suburb cities’ that are an attempt to develop away from the socio-spatial challenges that modern African Cities face. The results from the study show that without proper communication and participation there are several misunderstandings on livable spaces in cities. These include misinterpretations of the challenges citizens face, on the intentions of proposed solutions as well as the socio-economic decision making process of citizens. The implication of this leaves an unhealthy competition between existing informal ‘structures’ in various sectors against the new government driven proposals. The results are that those meant to benefit end up not being the primary beneficiaries. In conclusion, the role of putting people primarily as the centre objective of planning remains critical and key. For African planners, diverting from this will increase the existing inequalities and lead to further social divisions.