Green Hills, Blue Cities

URBANIZATION, WATER AND ECOSYSTEMS: THE CASE OF NAIROBI

David N. Mungai and Samuel O. Owuor 4

Founded as a railway station in 1899, Nairobi is the largest city in Kenya covering an area of 696 km 2 (UN-HABITAT 2010). The city accounts for 60 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (Ndorongo undated, Mungai and others 2011).

SUDAN

As Kenya rapidly urbanises, Nairobi’s share of the country’s urban population increased from 5.2 per cent in 1948 to 32.4 per cent in 2009 (GOK 1966, 1971, 1981, 1994, 2002, 2010). The annual urban growth rate for Kenya increased to a high of 7.7 per cent in 1979 but fell to 3.4 per cent in 1999 (GOK 1999). Nairobi continues to have the largest share of the urban population in the country. The city’s population increased from 119 000 in 1948 to 3.1 million people in 2009 (GOK 1966, 1971, 1981, 1994, 2002, 2010). Despite its large population, Nairobi recently witnessed a decline in its growth rate. This indicates the emergence and importance of small and medium- size urban centres in the country. It is estimated that half of Kenya’s population will be living in urban areas by 2015. Urban growth, combined with urban sprawl, has overwhelmed the capacity of local authorities to provide the increasing urban population with adequate facilities and services, including water and sanitation.

ETHIOPIA

Lokichokio

Lake Turkana

Lokwa Kangole

Takaba

North Horr

El Wak

Loiyangalani

Lokichar

Marsabit

Lokori

UGANDA

Wajir

Baragoi

SOMALIA

Habas

Kitale

Archer’s Post

Liboi

Kakamega

Kisumu

Nakuru

Nyeri

Garissa

Embu

Homa Bay

Narok

Nairobi

Lamu

Garsen

Kibwezi

TANZANIA

4. The authors would like to thank Philip Gichuki, Mbutu Mwaura, Msafiri Wambua and Paul Kinyua for providing the information used in preparing this case study and for providing useful comments on the first draft of the text.

Malindi

Mombasa

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