Sustainability assessment of Nairobi Eastlands urban renewal plan (2016–2036), Kenya

Abstract

Sustainable urban renewal is a strategy for addressing urban challenges, but its implementation is limited in Africa. In this paper, we assessed the sustainability of the Nairobi Eastlands urban renewal plan, the largest regeneration program in Kenya, using 12 indicators selected based on data availability and local context. The findings revealed significant variations in sustainability performance across estates. The sustainability of the plan was not influenced by density but by design layout, historical legacies, and location. Estates characterized by large open spaces and low population densities performed better in environmental sustainability, estates with evenly distributed public facilities had high social sustainability, and estates close to a central business district had high economic sustainability. Limited housing diversity and inadequate open spaces negatively affected economic and social sustainability. The paper highlights gaps in the renewal plan and possible strategies and demonstrates that sustainability assessment of plans can serve as an important decision-support tool for policymakers and urban planners in determining whether the proposed plan will promote sustainable development once implemented.

Keywords

Urban renewal / regeneration / sustainability assessment / indicators / Nairobi

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