The administration of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is developing strategic urban development plans, city government spokesperson Mauron Agnes said at an event at WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.
She noted that during the daytime, Nairobi's population reaches 7 million, while at night, this figure drops to 5 million. This difference is explained by the fact that a significant portion of people work in the capital but do not live there permanently.
"Nevertheless, they spend 90% of their day in the city. Today, Nairobi is among the fastest-growing cities on the African continent. Every year, thousands of people move from rural areas to the capital. They seek employment and income, which places a significant strain on housing and urban infrastructure. We are currently developing plans for the city's development," she said.
According to Agnes, climate change is also having a significant impact on Nairobi amid increasing urbanization. The city has flood-prone areas, rising temperatures, pollution, and pressure on natural ecosystems, including rivers, wetlands, and green spaces.
"If we continue to build cheap housing that is not adapted to the impacts of climate change, we face a new crisis down the road," she said.
Agnes emphasized that approximately 60% of Nairobi's land area is occupied by informal settlements, which are home to low- and middle-income residents.
"We have over 200 informal settlements, and Kibera is one of the largest. This is the area where we plan to modernize and build affordable housing that meets existing needs," she added.
"Our city has over 200 informal settlements, and Kibera is one of the largest. It is in this area that we intend to carry out large-scale modernization and build affordable housing that meets existing needs," she added.