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Figure 3.1 UEP Green Blue Development Framework
The UEP provides an overarching Development Concept, focused on a bespoke GBD approach, to guide and support the realisation of economic opportunities as economic sector development plans (Section 4.1), value chain opportunities (Section 4.2) and the implementation of a Development Framework of Green Blue Infrastructure (GBI) projects and initiatives (Section 5). A number of VC projects have been identified and assessed to act as anchor projects for KKM, while the Development Framework (Section 5) prioritises the GBI projects that will be required to support economic growth.
Additionally, the Development Concept is grounded on the main planning documents steering development across the Municipality and the County, highlighted in Section 2.2. While some of the documents are yet to be legally adopted, it is important to note these plans suggest a polycentric development. This means a network of designated functional centres across KC to strengthen the rural – urban linkages, therefore KKM UEP is focused on three main areas for development: Sagana industrial site, Kerugoya town and Kutus town (further described in Section 5.1.1).
This Chapter presents the UEP Development Concept and overview to these elements, as demonstrated in Figure 3.1.
Figure 3.1 UEP Green Blue Development Framework
Source: Atkins
3.2 UEP Vision
The UEP sets out an economic vision to guide the economic and urban development of the Municipality. A visioning exercise was undertaken at the TBP workshop. PSG members, MB members and wider stakeholders were asked to consider the key elements of the UEP vision, where proposed vision statements were submitted by around 50 stakeholders.
The team have analysed the responses to identify common objectives. The following key elements were mentioned and articulated by the PSG, MB members and wider stakeholders for KKM to be:
> Green and environmentally friendly; > Distinctive green blue resources to be protected such as Mt
Kenya, rivers and green areas; > Well-connected and integrated; > Sustainable and prosperous; > Vibrant, thriving, liveable and attractive; > Beautiful and clean; > Organised and spaced out; > Modern, industrialised, and industrial hub; > Economic hub; > Residential hub; > Adequate infrastructure provision; > Health, welfare and wellness centre. The vision statement that best represents the MB, PSG and wider stakeholder’s aspirations is stated below:
The vision for economic development in KKM focuses on a green approach that preserves the Municipality’s valuable natural resources and achieves both economic and environmental resilience, whilst also improving the wellbeing of the population.
A GBD approach could form a key element of this shared vision, requiring a holistic approach that permeates every level of the planning, design, and management process, to be adopted at every stage of development. A positive and proactive approach to GBD will enable KKM to make sustainable use of its natural resources, providing tangible returns on investment and increased functionality, together with an increased focus on the health and wellbeing of its citizens.
3.3 Economic Development – Sector Plans and VCs
The model for GBD for KKM aims to strengthen the Municipality’s economic role, based on its competitive and comparative advantages, while taking a citizen-centred approach to green growth and sustainable investment.
The Economic Development Plan for KKM is based on the economic vision and sectoral action plans, set out in Section 4.1. These action plans respond to the diagnostics phase, where the Municipality’s key economic sectors – industry and agri-processing, agriculture and livestock, and trade, services, and eco-tourism – were assessed according to a SWOT framework that utilised data gathering, stakeholder engagement and business consultation to identify the opportunities and threats for each sector. These action plans build on this to ensure the realisation of economic opportunities and the mitigation of threats in an inclusive and resilient way. The Economic Development Plan will support the MB and the Municipality to deliver a more cohesive, holistic and sustainable economic future for KKM, with a focus on GBD. Value Chain projects have been assessed to select two agri-processing VCs for KKM, of banana flour and husk products. These VCs, and further VC and industrial opportunities, sit within the wider Economic Development Plan for KKM (as set out in Section 4.2) as anchor projects. A number of key outcomes are identified to establish VCs which drive an economic ecosystem that can grow and ensure opportunities for KKM’s residents, in particular its youth and PWD, who have previously been excluded from more formal employment.
3.4 Green Blue Development (GBD) Approach
3.4.1 Setting the Scene
Critical to KKM’s future development are its unique water and natural resources, which are currently under significant stress. Pressures come from rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation, poor agricultural practices, pollution and degradation of resources, as well as climate change – which is increasingly affecting water levels and causing more frequent natural hazard events such as floods and droughts, as detailed in Chapter 2.
KC is well-endowed with water resources, as well as natural assets, including Mt Kenya Natural Park and fertile soils for agricultural production, especially rice, which is a water-dependant crop). KKM is located on the flanks of Mt Kenya, one of the main water towers in Kenya, known as “the heart and lungs of the country”. The rivers that emanate from Mt Kenya are tributaries of Tana and Ewaso Ng’iro rivers, the two largest river basins in the country. The ongoing pressure on Mt Kenya’s rich ecosystems increasingly threatens people’s livelihoods and the economy of both KC and KKM, along with its habitats and biodiversity resources.
The County Government is in the process of developing the Mountain Cities Blueprint, a long-term plan that aims to develop the County in a sustainable way and protect these unique natural resources such as mountains, rivers and fertile soil. A proactive response is required to address the increasing pressure on KKM’s water and natural resources. Crucially, water resources need to be regarded as a holistic and integrated system. Provision of potential soft and hard solutions should aim to manage a set of interlinked challenges, which could be achieved by adopting a GBD approach. There is a growing global interest in the potential of nature-based solutions, in particular the incorporation of GBI, and the multiple socio-economic and environmental benefits they may offer to cities such as KKM. A GBD approach involves the integration of natural systems that offer the potential to increase resilience to floods and drought, while at the same time enhancing the ecological and amenity value associated with urban greening, along with water security and stormwater management5 .
The main driver of GBD is to approach water resources as a holistic and integrated system, in order to achieve economic and environmental resilience. Together green and blue infrastructures can encourage multifunctionality, meaning that the same spatial area is able to perform various functions and deliver multiple benefits to society6 .
The dual benefits created have the potential to increase the cost-effectiveness of infrastructure and result in maintenance reductions for KKM. However, it is important to recognise that the multifunctional nature of GBD means that an integrated and multi-disciplinary appoach will be crucial to its successful implementation. Figure 3.2 below presents the multi-benefits and multi-disciplinary inputs to GBD to achieve the KKM UEP’s vision.
5. Wouters, P., Dreiseitl, H., Wanschura, B., Wörlen, M., Moldaschl, M., Wescoat, J. and Noiva, K. (2017) ‘Strengthening Blue-Green Infrastructure in Our Cities’, Ramboll Environ [Online] Available at: http://download.ramboll-environ.com/environcorp/Blue%20green%20infrastructures.pdf (Accessed: 20 June 2021) 6. European Environment Agency (2015) Exploring Nature-Based Solutions: The Role of Green Infrastructure in Mitigating the Impacts of Weather and Climate Change-Related Natural Hazards. Luxembourg: Publications Office
