Urban Land Use for the Physical Development of Peri-Urban Areas: A Case Study of Kimumu and Kin'gong'o of Eldoret Municipality.
By
Moseti Lillian
Urbanization is one of the most important demographic trends of the twenty first century, and growth is particularly rapid in the lower income countries. The majority of urban growth is associated with the rapid expansion of smaller urban centers and peri-urban development.
Urban population of both the developing and developed nations is expected to double in the year 2020 with large city-states converting large amounts of land to urban use. However there is a shortfall in land for urban expansion. Due to continued increase in urban growth, many problems continue to plague the peri-urban areas. Much of the physical development taking place is unplanned and informal, with community members and informal sector developers taking advantage of the fact that regulatory capacity of government authorities is weak, particularly in those areas that are outside official municipal boundaries. In many developing countries shortfalls are experienced in public sector financial resources for the provision and maintenance of urban services, and land for urban expansion.
The purpose of this study was to highlight on the effects of urbanization and the challenges facing the peri-urban areas of Eldoret Municipality, due to the high rate of urbanization. Various forces impact on the process of land development in the peri-urban areas in Eldoret Municipality, hence built-up areas have formed a weak pattern of urban development.
The study was guided by a number of set objectives including examination of patterns of land development in peri-urban areas, and the consequent implications to planning as a result of Municipal growth. The study also examined the role of land tenure in land development of peri-urban areas of Eldoret Municipality. The Institutional capacity of the municipal council to enforce planning was also discussed and a framework proposed for more effective urban development. Systematic random sampling was employed in collecting field data. Thirty subjects were selected from Kimumu and another thirty from King'ong'o for administration of the household questionnaires, giving a total of sixty subjects. Another twenty subjects were selected for administration of business questionnaires.
From the study it was revealed that Kimumu and King'ong'o as peri-urban areas have rapidly been integrated into the urban setting due to rapid growth of the municipality. It was realized that settlement patterns had occurred without planning intervention hence making service delivery and infrastructure provision very difficult. The pattern -of land development had been influenced much by the existent tenure system.
The study therefore recommended drastic measures to coordinate development within the peri-urban areas. This includes control in sub-division of parcels, enforcement of development control regulations and strengthening of the Municipal council's institutional capacity. The study argues that the planning process in the municipality can be improved to ensure benefits of urban growth are retained for sustainable development.