The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN- Habitat) held its inaugural Assembly from 27^th to 31^st May 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya with a delegation from 127 countries, including four Heads of State, Government officials and 49 ministers in attendance.
The Council of Governors was represented by H.E Lee Kinyanjui, Governor Nakuru County Government and Chairperson, Lands, Urban Planning and Development, Energy and Infrastructure Committee. In his remarks at the Global Local and Regional Government’s Forum, he highlighted that 25 counties had signed MOU’S with the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and 6 Counties had already set aside land for development of the Affordable Housing programme. He also noted that Counties had further established urban governance institutions to manage Cities, Municipalities and Towns. “Most Counties are in the process of putting in place frameworks, policies and infrastructure to support these urban areas in managing housing and solid waste management.” said H.E Lee Kinyanjui.
He further noted that County Governments have responded positively to the call for the New Urban Agenda in which most of them are in the process of preparing County spatial plans which are 10-year GIS based plans to guide development in counties.
Also in attendance was the Governor of Nairobi City County, who reiterated the great work by his administration in working with UN HABITAT in implementing new urban agenda with new projects like ongoing redesigning of Luthuli Avenue. “In conjunction with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the Nairobi City County Government is ensuring that all new road projects have components of pedestrian footpaths” pointed out Governor Mike Sonko.
As a Legacy project of the UN-Habitat, Nairobi City County’s Luthuli Avenue was redesigned and converted into a one way street. The redesign involved the construction of a pedestrian walkway, installation of lights and the painting of road markings. This was part of the county’s vision to create streets and roads that are vibrant to improve mobility, safety and accessibility. The redisgn of Luthuli Avenue reduces vehicular traffic congestion, promotes Non Motorized Transport (NMT) & encourages pedestrianization. Results include reduced carbon emission, better air quality, improved mobility and safety, enhanced greening and increase in property values.
The UN-Habitat Assembly passed five resolutions focusing on safer cities, implementation of the New Urban Agenda, achieving gender equality through UN-Habitat’s work to support inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements. It also determined the strategic priorities for accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for the next six years, through UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan (2020-2025). The first UN-Habitat Assembly concluded with a Ministerial Declaration that recognised the unprecedented rate of urbanisation brought along both as a challenge and an opportunity.
The second assembly will be held from June 5 to June 9 in 2023. Kenya pledged to increase its contribution from KSh 7,084,293 to KSh 10,120,097 ,furthrmore 21 countries jointly pledged to raise more funds to a tune of KSh 15.38 billion to fund UH-Habitat which conitinues to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.