Nakuru:The County Government of Nakuru is adopting the ‘Just City Model’, an urban planning approach that emphasizes social justice, democratic governance, and sustainable urban development. This initiative aims to address rapid urban expansion and economic inequalities with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Kenya Office.
According to Kenya News Agency, the model seeks to transform urban centers across all 11 sub-counties into inclusive environments. Deputy Governor Dr. David Kones emphasized this strategic policy shift places residents at the heart of municipal planning, ensuring infrastructure investments meet community needs while improving access to essential services and economic opportunities.
Dr. Kones, speaking at the County Headquarters during a visit from a Ugandan delegation, highlighted the county’s obligation under social contract theory to protect the health, dignity, shelter, and sanitation of its residents, especially the most vulnerable. He stated that this model provides an alternative to disorderly urban growth by ensuring the county government fulfills its fundamental responsibilities.
He added that through partnership with FES, Nakuru is integrating principles of dignity, democracy, equity, and inclusion into urban governance using participatory social planning tools. This initiative marks a shift from conventional top-down infrastructure delivery to a framework where residents have a decisive voice in shaping their neighborhoods.
The DG noted that Nakuru, Jinja, and Soroti face common urban challenges, such as population growth, infrastructure pressure, housing demand, and service delivery. These shared experiences offer opportunities for peer learning to adapt proven solutions locally.
Utilizing digital social planning tools like Sceneri and U-Code, with FES support, Nakuru collects and analyzes detailed community data to address spatial inequalities and direct municipal funds to underserved areas. A key example of this is the ongoing Kiamurogi Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP), which includes infrastructure upgrades to improve mobility and security.
The Ugandan delegation, led by Jinja City Mayor Nagaya Abdulhafidh and Soroti City Council Speaker Faith Nagawa, praised Nakuru’s integration of public participation in project delivery. They noted that Nakuru’s experience provides valuable lessons for strengthening inclusive urban governance.
FES reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nakuru’s Just City agenda by expanding technical capacity and promoting policy integration. As urbanization in Kenya intensifies demands on housing and utilities, Nakuru’s implementation of the Just City framework sets a replicable benchmark for urban management in East Africa.
The County Government of Nakuru is committed to maintaining partnerships with development partners, civil society, and local communities to ensure that urban expansion respects human dignity, democracy, and social equity.
