Constant Cap discussing approaches that can be taken by cities, using Nairobi as a case study, in order to make public transport more socially just. He mentions the pillars of Socially Just Public Transport which include: Available, Accessible and Affordable, Human Rights and Equity, Sustainable. These include to aspects such as universal access for elderly […]
TV Discussion: Bringing Order and Splitting Orders
Discussion on the case of Nairobi’s Matatus, People, Politics and Power-Play.
Nairobi: Did The Expressway forget about ‘people?’
As urban areas continue to grow, so do their benefits and challenges. One major challenge that has become increasingly apparent in most emerging African cities is the growing gap between the rich and the poor. This phenomenon was vividly portrayed by the award winning AfricanDrones project entitled ‘Unequal Scenes.’ The project used drones to visually […]
Nairobi: Will the new boss make the city work?
Nairobi’s new administration under Governor Johnson Sakaja faces an uphill task at ensuring the just principles of Dignity, Equity and Diversity, Rights and Responsibilities, Democracy for the citizens. However, a lot is achievable.
African Cities: Development Control and Zoning
The rate of Urban development in African cities is at levels never experienced before. Sub-Saharan Africa is the least urbanized region globally, however, it nevertheless has the highest rate of urbanization. Small towns, municipalities, cities and metropolises are expanding at extremely high rates. Only three decades ago, Nairobi had a population of slightly over 1 […]
No Progress without Accepting Prevailing SocioEconomic Conditions!
The Governor of Nairobi recently stated in a local talk show that it is his desire for Nairobi to be an ‘International City.’ This can be presumed to mean a city that is attractive to foreign investment, conferences and tourism. These attributes are not new to the City of Nairobi. A large percentage of Nairobi’s […]
Terrorism: A Key thought on Urban Resilience
Cities and towns offer people better lifestyles but their organic nature also heralds an unparalleled diversity of challenges. Cities experience extremes in poverty indices, environmental concerns such as air quality, river and riparian preservation, security concerns at personal and social levels, and varied mobility needs. These dynamics contribute to various levels of stresses on the […]
Putting People at the Core of Design
In today’s world it is common for us to associate cities with features like buildings, roads, cars and spaces. It is, however, important that we don’t forget the most important element in a city – its citizens. What is a city without its citizens? Probably a ‘lost city’ or ‘abandoned ruins’. Yet, more often than […]
Africa: Only 2 BRTs North of Limpopo and South of the Sahara!
The recent increase in Africa’s urban motorized population has brought about several discussions on the need for sustainable and inclusive urban mobility. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Aerial Cable Cars, Monorail, Metro Systems and improved Non-Motorized Transport are now common terms in African newsrooms and professional transport conversations. Unlike cities in other parts of the world, […]
Riparian Lands: Nairobi starts demolitions
Short Discussion on Citizen TV The City of Nairobi has started demolishing constructions on Riparian lands. Riparian zones are vegetated strips of land on each side of a watercourse or adjacent to a water body. The laws on riparian lands give a range of 6m to 30m for rivers. The distance oceans, lakes and dams […]