Exploring and Documenting Urban Renewal Projects in Kisumu City, Kenya with Emphasis on Preservation of Urban Landscape Identity

Abstract

Urban renewal is undertaken to respond to physical deterioration within cities to improve the quality of urban life. Urban renewal in Africa is undertaken in once colonial societies with their existing spatial built forms undergoing changes in post-colonial times. This paper aimed to explore and document the various projects undertaken in Kisumu City's urban renewal in Kenya with emphasis on preservation of urban landscape identity. The main aim of the various projects was to improve the urban infrastructure, public facilities and spatial planning and carry out slum upgrading in addition to modernisation of public policies to improve public service delivery through effective city management. Consequently, several urban renewal projects were implemented in Kisumu City from 2019 to 2022. The research was done as a case study analysis of Kisumu City, Kenya, which has been undergoing the upgrading of various urban forms and spaces. Data capturing was based on mixed methods, including archival records, mapping, photographic documentation, and semi-structured interviews. This paper sets out the categories of ongoing and completed projects and describes them in terms of project locations, type of project, what components it entailed. Data collection was through desk review on urban renewal and review of City of Kisumu documents, interviews and field investigations. The interviews were carried out with purposively selected officials from Kisumu County including the City Planning Department, Environment Department, Kisumu Urban Project. The findings revealed the projects included non-motorised transport (NMT) within the CBD that comprises the improvement of pedestrian walkways, parking spaces, construction of new markets, bus parks, rehabilitation of public parks, beautification of roundabouts, road islands and proposed new high-rise affordable housing