Urban Planning Services in Kenya Explained

(A) Preparation of County Spatial Plans (CSPs)

  • Involves formulation of land use development plans for a whole county
  • Meant to guide the County on spatial demarcation of urban areas, rural zones and spatial location of strategic county developments, both physical and non-physical
  • These are to be prepared every 10 years
  • Clientele: County Governments

(B) Preparation of Regional Physical and Land Use Development Plans

  • Land Use Plans prepared for a space that is larger than a town (supra-urban space) e.g. a metropolitan region
  • Anchored within Physical & Land Use Planning Act (2019)
  • Long term (20-30 year) plans
  • Can be reviewed every 10 years
  • Clientele: National and County Governments, Regional Development Authorities e.g. Lake Basin Development Authority, Nairobi Metropolitan Service (in charge of Nairobi Metropolitan Region etc.)

(C) Formulation of Integrated Strategic Urban Development Plans (ISUDPs)

  • Land Use Development Plans for Cities, Towns and Municipalities
  • Anchored within Urban Areas and Cities Act (2011)
  • Long term plans of upto 20-30 years
  • Can be reviewed every 10 years
  • Clientele: City/Town/Municipality Management Boards and State Department of Urban Design & Development (UDD)

(D) Preparation of Local Physical and Land Use Development Plans

  • Any plan whose geographical scope is less than or equal to a single town/municipality/city, or a rural market center
  • Anchored within Physical & Land Use Planning Act (2019)
  • Long term (20-30 year) plans
  • Clientele: National and County Governments

(E) Preparation of Site Master Plans

  • Comprehensive site-specific plans for multi-activity development spaces/plots e.g. schools, hospitals, residential estate, shopping complexes, hotels, churches etc.
  • Plan period is determined by the developers
  • Clientele: Individual developers, all Government and Non-Governmental institutions, real estate developers, land selling companies etc.

 (F) Development applications i.e.:

  • Entails application for development permission from County Governments including:
  1. Change and Extension of Land Use
  2. Extension of Leases
  3. Land subdivision and amalgamation
  4. Advertisement
  • Clientele: Individual developers, real estate developers, land selling companies Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, Religious institutions, Kenya Power, Kenya Airports Authority, KURA, KeNHA, KeRRA, Kenya Rural Electrification Authority, Petrol station owners, Architectural Firms, Surveying Firms and Law firms and any other land owner