Situation Analysis of Informal Settlements in Kisumu
would have to take over the full cost of road improvements in the settlements, as is the case in rural areas. Where the title is leasehold, the cost would be put on the title deed as a condition for such tenure. It is important to note here that even simple planning decisions, such as provision of access roads, are undertaken by the central government as part of the allocation of the title deed. In respect to community outreach, the Social Services Department employs “community development assistants” who work in communities and provide good entry points to community participation in planning and management. Within the communities, especially those in the slums, there is evidence of formal institutional structures such as the Location Development Committees (LDC), where grassroots representation is facilitated with a view to identifying and defining those development needs catered for by LASDAP and District Development Plans, respectively. However, the linkage between the LDC and the process of developing a LASDAP is not clearly defined and representation on the LASDAP team may not necessarily coincide with the one on the LDC. As they bring together GoK civil servants at the local level, local councillors, community representatives and CSOs, LDCs provide adequate bases which, with the addition of neighbourhood associations, would ensure effective community participation in LASDAP. Complaints over inadequate transport and logistics are commonplace in Kisumu council. Beyond basic service provision, such inadequacy has repercussions on the council’s capacity for development control. Data management systems need strengthening to enable the council to manage development and provide guidance on city growth and expansion. As things stand, accessing large amounts of basic information across departments is a logistical feat, especially for planning, monitoring and evaluation purposes, so that
ad hoc approaches seem to be the regular, alternative modus operandi. A restructuring of Kisumu Municipal Council operations is a prerequisite if any meaningful planning decisions are to be made at local level to improve accessibility in peri-urban areas. Such restructuring should include: 1. Enhancing the planning department and improving its capacity to provide planning and development control services. 2. Overhauling the Inspectorate Department to enhance its cardinal role in development control. 3. Improving local authority capacity to raise funds for infrastructure development. 4. Reducing central government control over development planning and monitoring in the town. 5. Institutionalising community development assistants. 6. Community development planning to be instituted as the basis for LATF. 7. Clear mapping of resources and income projections for specified periods. 8. Involving the public in control management (education, concessions, etc.).
5.3
Cen tra l Government
In Kenya, planning is undertaken at different levels and with varying scopes, resulting in a variety of planning authorities. However, this report focuses on those institutions with a direct influence on urban planning and development. The centralised government planning structure is an outgrowth of Kenya’s colonial legacy: Provincial Administration has its headquarters in the Office of the President, with municipal councils tightly controlled by the Ministry of Local Government. Caught in between
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