Ruto highlights Kenya's commitment to urbanization

By Robert Mutasi 

President William Ruto said Kenya was still committed to solving the challenges and opportunities brought about by rapid urbanization.

Taking to his verified Meta account on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the President said that the country was committed to investing in housing, climate resilience, and infrastructure that support growing cities.

"As a fast urbanizing country, Kenya is taking huge strides by investing in housing, climate resilience, and infrastructure supportive of this transformation. We must therefore seek ways of dealing with urgent challenges and great opportunities in African urbanization," said President Ruto.

The President spoke on Wednesday after hosting a high-level delegation at State House, Nairobi.

Present were serving and former African governors and mayors, along with philanthropists under the African Mayoral Leadership initiative championed by Jamie Cooper and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

This is a group committed to nurturing leadership toward the development of smart, sustainable, and safe cities on the continent.

President Ruto commended the team, led by Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u, for their leadership in innovations geared towards promoting urban development on the African continent-one that will go a long way in shaping the future of cities on the African continent.

He reiterated support for programs that aim at making cities "safe, smart, and green" while guaranteeing a better quality of life for urban dwellers and responding to environmental challenges brought forth by climate change.

In his address, President Ruto emphasized the efforts made by Kenya in addressing the challenges brought about by urbanization through constructing affordable housing, implementing climate-resilient policies, and expanding critical infrastructure.

These initiatives are instrumental in creating cities for Kenya that are able to sustain the pressures foisted by rapid growth while at the same time offering living standards to its residents that are sustainable.

The President noted that Kenya's Urban Agenda is part of the larger African strategy that confronts urbanization, a subject that has gained increasing attention due to the growing population in the African continent.

The urban population in Africa is likely to double by 2050, and it is now vital, he added, that governments formulate policies that ensure any negative implications of sprawling towns are at a minimal level, while the potential for economic growth is maximised.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja elaborated on what the President had said, stressing that there was a need for innovative solutions to meet the demands of an extremely demanding urban population.

He added that while Nairobi, being the capital of Kenya, was already feeling the pressure from urbanization, it also had massive potential to be a model for African cities.

The African Mayoral Leadership initiative is supported by global philanthropists and development partners in a quest to give city leaders the tools, knowledge, and resources to build cities ready for the future.

In this manner, leaders aspire to create cities under this initiative that foreground sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity in light of the United Nations Global Goals for sustainable urban development.