Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA)
An overlooking shot of Mukuru kwa Rueben settlement.
Mukuru is a belt of slums individually identified as Kwa Reuben, Kwa Njenga & Viwandani. Within these slums, there are smaller settlement areas that can be related to as “estates” such as Sinai, Kayaba etcetera. The Mukuru settlement is caught in a web of industries that pose both a health and environmental risk to the dwellers. This prompted the County Government of Nairobi to see part of the 2.5 million Nairobi slum residents have better standards of living, hence Special Planning Areas. Mukuru was officially listed as part of these areas in August of 2017 by the County Government.
Mukuru sits on over 650 acres of land and is home to over 150,000 families. Muungano wa Wanavijiji is a social movement that collaborates with several other partners in providing slum upgrading solutions in urban setups. According to one of the partners IIED, Urban planners often designate areas as being 'special planning' or 'special development' zones when there is a need for substantial redevelopment – for example, to revitalise an inner-city or for comprehensive redevelopment of a waterfront area. Therefore, Mukuru Special Planning Area sets in motion one of the largest informal settlement upgrading projects – ever. The SPA process aims to transform a slum area of 650 acres into a healthy, functioning neighbourhood, improving the lives of people who live there.
Just like all slums across the globe, Mukuru is not any different. With a focus on Mukuru kwa Rueben, road and sanitation challenges are prevailing. Among these, there are more numerous underlying issues such as security, employment, quality education, housing and many more that can achieved by upgrading the situation. This was the cause of the visit by Nairobi Metropolitan’s Director General Mohamed Badi. He was joined by a team of engineers and various key stakeholders of other dockets.
Mr. Badi of the Kenya Air Force was granted power by the President to take over Nairobi County. The county is now under the Nairobi Metropolitan Services. The incumbent governor Mike “Sonko” Mbuvi was forced to step down to pave way for investigations following corruption and abuse of office allegations. Critics believe that Kenya’s President is trying to salvage his wrecked legacy as most of his projects have either stalled or not taken off. The take over of Nairobi County could be a big win for the President if he manages, through the Director General, to successfully accomplish projects in the metropolitan such as Mukuru SPA.
The Director General’s office identified Ruben Centre as their base for this operation and it was Br. Frank’s privilege to host them. What this means for Mukuru kwa Rueben is that there will be controlled and legal developments and that the members of the SPA will not have to be charged the poverty penalty, where they have to pay up to 172% more than those in suburbs for an essential service such as water. According to Ruben Centre director Br. Frank, the timing could not be any better as he has had to wait for nearly 10 years to see the first step towards the plan coming to execution. He hopes that the politicians will keep out of the Mukuru SPA for once and that the Kenyan people come first.