I am an architect working at AIA Architects Ltd as an Associate Director and have been involved in various projects in the country and in Somali. I hold a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Nairobi. I am a corporate member of Architectural Association of Kenya.
I entered the master’s in Urban Management programme to gain knowledge to help solve, at both policy and practice level, some of the challenges our urban areas are faced with. These challenges include but are not limited to urban poverty, transport challenges, housing, solid waste management among others. I am hoping to contribute further to this knowledge generation by pursuing a PhD in Urban Management.
Project Summary
Urban renewal potential: A case for Kaloleni Estate Kisumu Town
Research Supervisor
Arch. Erastus Abonyo
Dr. Romanus Opiyo
Housing shortage is a major challenge for urban areas and cities in Kenya and while urban renewal is seen as means of both improving the urban fabric and providing housing there is a policy and legislative deficit in the country for carrying out the same. It is the aim of this study is to identify potentials for renewal and propose a viable framework for renewal for Kaloleni Kisumu.
The primary data collected in this study included age, gender, socio-economic data of the residents of Kaloleni Estate, the state of the housing, land uses, land ownership, neighbourhood associations and respondent’s participation, and their attitudes towards urban renewal. The target population is the residents of Kaloleni Estate, NGOs operating within Kaloleni and government agencies concerned with housing and urban development.
The study is situated in the 100-year-old residential estate of Kaloleni, Kisumu City and is bounded by Ondieki Highway, Ramogi Road, and Sekou Touré Road. The primary data is collected through physical and social surveys on the detailed study area of Kaloleni estate selected through random cluster sampling. Secondary data was obtained from various libraries, resource centers, internet sources and government agencies. The units of observation include the target group and all the spatial and sectoral aspects of the neighbourhood. The population constitutes all the stakeholders comprising the institutional set up of Kaloleni.
It is the conclusion of this study that that Kaloleni Estate has potential for urban renewal justified by evidence from the socio-economic survey of the households, the low quality of housing fabric including high household densities, poor environmental quality and strong informal neighbourhood networks. The study recommends an integrated urban renewal approach for Kaloleni and makes policy recommendations for implementing urban renewal.
