Figure 3.4 Spatial strategy to economic development

3.4 Spatial strategy to economic development

Adequate planning for coastal urban centres which are cognisant of, and reflect, the Blue Economy principles is critical to ensuring the preservation of Lamu’s unique ecosystems, its important cultural and heritage assets, and the development of socio-economic blue and green opportunities. Spatial planning is key to responding to climate change risks and must guide the investment in resilient and inclusive infrastructure across the Municipality whilst directing urbanisation around Mokowe, thereby protecting the Lamu Old Town UNESCO World Heritage site and islands complex, and capitalising on the growth around the LAPSSET node.

Taking into consideration the planning framework suggested and described in more detail in the Diagnostic Report (Appendix A), the core spatial area to be considered by the UEP will be the ‘triangle’ between Lamu Town, Lamu Port Area and Mokowe while ensuring other key urban centres such as Hindi and Mpeketoni, along with Pate and Manda Islands are well connected to support sustainable urban development across the entire Municipality. This strategy is shown in Figure 3.4.

Figure 3.4 Spatial strategy to economic development

Source: Atkins analysis

This strategy allows for the continued and effective planning, development and growth of the Municipality in preparation of the future development of the LAPSSET node and metropolis. The “key” to this strategy is that meaningful, resilient and responsive urban and economic development can and should continue with, or without, the full implementation of the LAPSSET node and metropolis.

Lamu Island will be the tourism and heritage hub where key infrastructure interventions will support the retention of the UNESCO World Heritage Site award, improve the citizens quality of life and attract and create more tourism opportunities. The current challenges and issues facing Lamu Island, which have been well documented within this report and the Diagnostics Report, need to be addressed and mitigated before any further development is permitted. The proposals within this UEP, both hard infrastructure interventions and softer initiatives to make the Island more attractive and operate at a more enlightened level, are aimed to achieve this goal.

Thus, future urban growth should be steered towards Mokowe as the future County Head Quarters, as well as the preferred location for the VCs (described in section 3.5.3), in order to leverage from the potential future growth of LAPSSET and the need to manage growth on Lamu Island. Mokowe currently plays a key role as a trading hub with goods from the rest of the country passing through the town for distribution across the islands. However, this will need to be supported by the additional and adequate provision of climate resilient utilities, services and social infrastructure to attract and benefit the future growing population.

Mpeketoni is a market town within the high potential agricultural zone, which has attracted many people to settle in the town over the last decade due to its strategic location. It therefore has a significant role to play within the agricultural produce and supply chain elements of the key economic sector of agriculture, livestock and processing. Pate and Siyu Islands are tourism centres with rich historical and cultural environments, where their communities have retained their traditions, attracting domestic and international tourists. They have the potential to sensitively expand on this offering and become more engaged in the mainstream tourism circuit within Lamu. Outside of the Municipality boundary is the town of Witu, which is also an important agricultural centre located near the Tana River basin and close to the Mombasa-Lamu highway. Witu is projected to grow significantly over the next ten to 15 years (CIDP) and as such will be an important agricultural hub and logistics centre that will also enjoy the potential benefits from the developments not only in the LAPSSET node but also across the Municipality.

The UEP will therefore aim to enhance urban-rural linkages between the core triangle and these urban and island centres, and will join forces to ensure a more integrated, greener and inclusive development across the Municipality and County, with better connectivity as well as helping to balance development between the key urban centres rather than competing for investment and resources. Agriculture and fisheries collection networks with logistics and aggregation hubs located across the urban centres are proposed in order to support the development and growth of these localities across the County and strengthen the urban-rural linkages to enable sustainable and resilient economic growth and job opportunities.

Therefore, the three main elements of this spatial strategy to foster sustainable urban economic development in Lamu Municipality are listed below and described in more detail in the following sections:

> Sustainable urban and infrastructure interventions, along with managed growth on Lamu Island to become a model of self-sufficiency, circular economy and sustainable tourism; > Steer future growth towards Mokowe as the current trading hub with the rest of the country, the future County HQ, the strategic location in proximity to Hindi and LAPPSET node and the preferred location to host the proposed VCs; and > Sea-based and land-based aggregation models to support economic growth, through improved connectivity, and strengthened urban-rural linkages.

Managed growth of Lamu Island

Lamu Town and Lamu Island currently serve as the administrative centre, commercial centre, and tourism and cultural hub. There are other important settlements within the island including Matondoni, Wiyoni and Kipungani, these are mainly small villages; Shela, to the south-west of the island, is a renowned hospitality hotspot. See Figure 3 5. Manda, Pate and Siyu Islands also are tourism centres with rich historical and cultural environments, where their communities have retained their traditions, attracting domestic and international tourists as well as locals. Crafts and vernacular costumes are still produced here and are one of the main attractions for visitors. The urban development strategy for Lamu Island will be grounded in ’managed growth’ and the principles of self-sufficiency and sustainability, adopting a circular economy approach enabled by the Blue Economy sectors highlighted in section 3.5.3. The urban development interventions should address key challenges in Lamu Town, the largest town in the County, as well as to improve the quality of life of residents, allowing for natural growth in a controlled manner and ensure the town is resilient to future climate change. These priorities include:

> Retaining and protecting the UNESCO World Heritage

Site award; > Tackling the sanitation issues caused by poor solid waste management practices, lack of sewerage treatment and, open stormwater drainage and its disposal in to the ocean without any previous treatment; > Ensuring the resilience of Lamu Old Town to flood shocks; > Decongesiting and rationalising the town’s movement systems, including for example the segregationg of sea front jetties for passengers and cargo; > Create a diversified and low impact and less intense tourism offering; and, > Addressing the connectivity and affordability issues to associated with transport is critical. Lamu Island will need to be well-connected, via seaway transport / ferry services, with the rest of the islands and the mainland.

Case Study 3.1 - Stone Town of Zanzibar, Tanzania UNESCO World Heritage Site18,19

The Zanzibar World Heritage Site was at risk of being added to the Word Heritage Sites ‘in danger’ list due to lack of maintenance, non-functioning management systems, a lack of effective control of development proposals, and poor management of stakeholders involved in the management and conservation of the property. In 2013, the issues were addressed through a multi-level development and heritage base plan, which aimed to create a balance between urban development and heritage conservation.

The project created a community engagement dialogue between citizens’ concerns with the benefits of a culture-led strategy. Key outcomes achieved include:

> The Zanzibar City Centre Local Area Plan, which promotes a people-centred public transport system by prioritising pedestrian streets and improving commercial and public areas. > The Historic Urban Landscape Atlas of Ng’ambo, a publication which compiles the rich history and heritage of the Ng’ambo area by promoting its image and enhancing its heritage values.

In terms of waste management, the 2019 mission report by the World Heritage Committee acknowledged that the Zanzibar Urban Municipal Council (ZUMC) started to address the problem of solid waste management and is investigating in improving the sewerage system of the Stone Town, including addressing the current problem of sewerage discharge directly into the ocean. It was also noted that the State Party had procured funding and that the ZUMC had appointed a consultant to design a new separated storm water and sewerage system. These were perceived as positive steps towards improving the living environments and public health in the property, but it was noted that the design would require careful consideration before implementation and subsequent monitoring.

18 UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Stone Town of Zanzibar (2021). Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/173, (Accessed: 16/12/2021). 19 UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Bridging a spatial and social divide through inclusive planning in Zanzibar Town (2021). Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/canopy/zanzibar/, (Accessed: 16/12/2021).