Exploring Nairobi: A Hub of Urban Challenges and Innovations

The Governing the Large Metropolis Master’s programme aims to take a multidisciplinary perspective on fast-growing cities in emerging countries. This year, the annual study trip brought 40 students to Nairobi, Kenya. As an economic hub in East Africa and a transport node with highways connecting to the critical port of Mombasa, Nairobi offered a rich context for exploration. Ecologically, the city stood out with a national park within its boundaries and its location near the Rift Valley and Mount Kenya to the west and north.

During the first meetings, students learned about the history of urban planning in the city, the challenges of urban governance, and the intricate connections between city and national politics. Over the rest of the week, they engaged with key actors and stakeholders to gain insights into urban innovations, policies, litigation, politics, and community action.
Nairobi is one of Africa's fastest-growing cities, with a population of over 5 million. The city is experiencing significant challenges and opportunities due to rapid urbanization, making it a valuable case study for understanding the dynamics of urban growth in the Global South. It is also home to major international organizations, such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, offering a global perspective on urban policies.

Informal settlements like Kibera highlight social and economic challenges and showcase innovative community-led urban development initiatives. Nairobi is also a strategic location to observe the tensions between urbanisation and the preservation of ecosystems, with natural spaces such as Nairobi National Park. As a regional hub in East Africa, the city provides an opportunity to understand the interactions between urbanisation, governance, and regional integration while exploring solutions tailored to local contexts.

Meeting with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Eastern Africa

The Agence Française de Développement organised an in-depth presentation showcasing their urban development activities in Kenya, led by Gautier Singh-Kohler (senior urban specialist for AFD East Africa), Arwa George (National coordinator for KISIP) and Jack Campbell Clause (Design Director at Kounkuey Design Initiative). 

Afterwards, the students went for an immersive field visit to Nairobi’s Kahawa Soweto informal settlement, where AFD is supporting the Urban Fabric Initiative (U.F.I), a pilot project that is part of the second Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP 2), the latter co-financed by The World Bank and the EU.

The students learned how the soon-to-be-completed 'Green Alley Park Project’ within the Kahawa West Health Center was designed and co-built by community groups. These groups will manage the project’s future daily operations, including a canteen, cafeteria, breast-feeding room, and children's play area conveniently located inside the hospital compound. 
Nearby, the 'Kaa Sober' project will provide over 200 households access to an internet cybercafé, a public laundry facility, three showers, five toilets, a children's play area and water tanks.
 

Excerpts of the programme: 

• United Nations Office at Nairobi: UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) & UNEP masterclass on resilient and decarbonised cities and presentation of work and career opportunities at UN Campus. 
• Alliance Française de Nairobi: Introduction of Kenya and Nairobi City, Leina Kilesi, Lecturer Department of Spatial Planning and Design
• Uhuru Park : Nature in the City with Maurice Kavai, Deputy Director at Nairobi City County, Climate and Air Quality
• Masterclass with Elizabeth Wathuti, Kenyan Environment & Climate Activist, founder of the Green Generation Initiative, a member of the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai Scholarship award for her commitment to environmental conservation, 100 Most Influential Young African by the Africa Youth Awards
• “Financing large infrastructure projects” with Everlyne Otieno, Urban Development Specialist, European Investment Bank - C40 CITIES, a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities that are united in action to confront the climate crisis. Grace Munguti, Manager, Chief Financial Officer 
• Infrastructural Violence in Kenya by Prof Kennedy Mkutu, Professor of International  Relations USIU-Africa SPIRO, first company to manufacture e-bikes and batteries in Africa Wilfred Simon, Senior Associate, Corporate Strategy, Sciences Po Alumni (Master International Business & Sustainability)
• AFD’s Urban Development Strategy in East Africa with AFD Director and French Ambassador in Kenya. Visit of Kounkuey Design Initiative – KDI
• Talk with Joseph Nguthiru, the founder of HyaPak Ecotech Limited (Hyapak), a start-up transforming the water hyacinth plant, the world's most problematic aquatic weed, into biodegradable alternatives for single-use plastic products Location: Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute

We want to thank all the people who helped put this trip together and all those who welcomed us and gave up their time.