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Spatial Planning _ Rural Settlements

1. What constitutes a rural settlement and how does it differ from an urban one? Overview Decreased migrational lifestyles in the early 19th century resulted to the birth of rural settlements in African societies. Prior to this period, most of the African traditional communities lived migratory lives in search for greener grazing pastures for their livestock (Mainly cattle, goats sheep and even camels in the more arid regions of the continent. Otters like the Bantu community largely depended on wild fruits. Water sources also made people to migrate in search of water for their own consumption and that of their animals. As populations grew, and resources became scarcer, inter-community wars became more and more frequent in an effort to secure these rare resources. The stronger communities therefore dominated the better grazing areas/more productive areas. This eventually led to some kind of territories. With time, people started to settle into small rural settlements with some kind of a well defined organization. Communities slowly started to do away with the migratory lifestyle to a settlement, with remote/.few if any basic facilities. Their houses made up of the basic available materials within their settlement vicinity. These included cow dung, tree branches, cattle hides, banana leaves and would differ from region to region and the communities preferred means of livelihood. By the time the colonial rulers came in, majority of the communities were them living to in such remote rural for settlements. easy The colonial rule and governments took advantage of these settlements and reduced Concentration Camps colonial administration. It was therefore easier for them to monitor movements, deploy security over those small areas, and move them around for agricultural production and other economic production activities. Several such concentration camps were designated with
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an administration headquarter where the colonial chiefs would live. In these headquarters, the colonial chiefs would try to bring in as much services as would be practically possible by then. These would include reasonably good masonry or brick houses with iron sheet roofing. Some remote roads would also be necessary to facilitate use of horse Chariots or other advanced means of transport. In most cases, areas. Characteristics of Rural Settlements Rural settlements are principally guided by the following primary activities; 1. Food production Due to the fact that rural dwellers depend on the primary factors of production for survival, rural settlements are found in areas where the communities can easily produce/find food. A good example is the river-lake Nilotes in Eastern African region who settled at the shores of Lake Victoria, primarily because they depended on fishing for food. Such communities therefore found comfort around these shores and they have to-date been able to bring up their families and have grown up in width and breadth. Another example is the North Eastern tribes of Kenya whose preferred means of food production is cattle rearing. This requires expansive land for big herds of cattle. For this reason, they settled on expansive areas not utilized by other communities in the North Eastern of Kenya. 2. Landscape features The location of rural settlements is greatly influence by the landscape for a number of reasons. these areas were to be come urban areas after independence. Equally, the concentration camps became the rural

Rural folk dwellings/shelters are made of basic materials that are readily available to the dwellers. This means that the houses must be done on relatively and naturally flat areas. Therefore we find that these settlements cannot properly exist in extremely steep landscapes. Food production by land cultivation on such land would be difficult due to soil erosion problems. At the same note, cattles grazing is more convenient on relatively less steep land. In certain African communities, where polygamy was practiced, the arrangement of the houses within a familys compound would highly depend on the landscape. With no means to adjust the landscape and the fact that the husbands house had to be relatively elevated, the choice of the settlement would such that to enable this order. 3. Environmental features The environmental features such as the weather highly influenced the origination of rural settlements. From the onset, an agricultural community would try to settle on the more rainy areas, for good food harvests. Equally, a cattle grazing community will prefer to settle near a river for daily easy access to water and green pastures. 4. Political activities Since colonial era, political activities have influenced the nature of rural settlements. The colonial activity (Which in itself was a political activity) led to the formation of concentration camps which have to date influenced the nature of these rural settlements. Todays political activities, which have occasionally led to tribal upheavals/conflicts, have led to the adjustments in certain areas with people tending to move to their tribal settlements for perceived security. A good example is the Kenyas tribal animosity witnessed some years back after the contested political election results, in

which people were forcefully evicted from certain rural settlements perceived to be dominated by certain opposing tribes. 5. Soil exhaustion Soil exhaustion has meant less food production. This has led to the alteration of the way of life for the concerned communities. A good example is some regions in Central province of Kenya, where due to reduced food production, many people have moved to urban areas in search of jobs, and businesses. These rural areas having changed in nature from an ideal rural settlement, communities are using the land for dwelling only and very limited food production. This has brought many challenges traditional witnessed in the urban areas. These include insecurity, gradual cultural change, mostly in the younger generations and a general breakdown of the traditional community fabric. Urban settlement In many African countries, urban cities resulted from the colonial administrative centers or colonial governments activities. Nairobi, in Kenya, for example originated from a small railway station (Current Railway station along Haile Selassie Avenue). The railway builders could at last access cool waters after a long way from the coast (Mombasa) through relatively dry lower eastern region. This among other administrative factors influenced the location of todays Kenyas capital city. Urban centers therefore had an upper hand in terms of infrastructure, which meant that services were also easy to come by. Foreign and more modern technologies and knowledge would first get to the urban areas before getting down to the rural folk. Foreign visitors and investors would find comfort and convenience for investments in urban areas due to the availability of required infrastructure and services including commercial power, housing, security sewer systems and even entertainment facilities. Due to

this perceived better living conditions in the urban areas, and the need for laborers in the factories, rural folk from many different communities and started moving to urban areas with hope to better their lives. The unskilled people looking for casual jobs in these factories which the educated people seeking white collar jobs. This demanded for expansion in infrastructure in terms of housing and services. Initially people settled near factories because there was limited motorized means of transport. With time and more people moving into the urban areas, it meant that some of the people still ended up being forced to live far away from factories resulting to a dire need for motorized transportation. This consequently led to the need for wider roads, to take the increasing human and motor traffic. Today we have metropolitan urban areas, having people from all walks of life in terms of languages, cultures, social-economic backgrounds living together in harmony and pursuing common interests.

Rural-Urban Distinct differentiating Characteristics There are a number of characteristics that distinctly differentiate these two types of settlements; Rural Settlement 1. 2. Urban Settlement Low Literacy level High Literacy Levels Live by distinct traditions, Many cultural backgrounds with clear rules for the harmoniously living together as a and community with common different 3. age groups in

sexes Isolationalism,

interests which Easy to access due to advanced traditions. Common

people live by themselves technology and infrastructure. No partly due distinct traditions binding and fear for retribution by interests such as security. More the community or the gods if people per square area. Shared not in adherence and the services such as roads,
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difficulties in accessing them compounds 4.

(e.g.

in

gated

(Distance, poor roads etc) communities) Economy mainly agricultural. Technology driven industrialized This includes rural subsistence economy. Use of machines to settlements, obtained from the rural rain-fed agriculture in many process raw materials, mostly African and rain-fed cattle rearing. settlements or even imported

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from other countries. Lack of basic infrastructure Highly developed infrastructure, or poor if any. Many rural which settlements in Africa are driven served by gravel or no roads and latrines, housing, medical no poor commercial piped (If may include fully electricity tarmacked roads and power, systems, trains,

maintained water, and

at all. Waste disposal into pit subways.

Commercial sewer

power, no piped water, poor internet, good housing, medical any) facilities no facilities. population in terms of entertainment facilities,

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entertainment facilities. Low population in terms of High

number of people per square number of people per square area. Each household may area. Many people live in multiown a substantial piece of storied land. 7. buildings sharing all services. Few people owning the

land No or very little competition. People very keen on competition Communities members belonging to consider problem all. a for wealth, and the attitude is as The best gets it all.

Children

considered belonging to the 8. community. Rural communities same tribe, mostly Many different people from

consisting of people of the within and without the country. speaking the Each with a distinct language but normally unified by a certain common language/means of
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same language.

9.

In

African

countries

communication. rural Urban settlements

house

the

settlements are considered cream of the societies. These to generally house the less include leaders, educated people fortunate. 1 0 This may not and other owners of factors of necessarily be the case production. Homogeneity in wealth. Serious differences between the People generally have equal rich levels of wealth generally low per capita. and the poor. This is and explained by the fact that some people own the factories and other factors of production while others come in as laborers or employees, considerably 1 1 obviously lower levels with of

income/salaries. Change is slow and this is Change is very rapid. This is attributed to the lack of associated to easy access to technology, globalization transfer. including Good roads and the leading current to services, and technology

innovation and rapid knowledge infrastructure airports and

harbors enables easy access to goods and services, hence aiding rapid change/growth.

These

distinct

differences

influence

the

levels

of

difficulties

encountered by planners in the urban and rural settlements planning activities. The following urban characteristics would make it more difficulty to carry out urban settlements planning as compared to rural settlements planning;

1. Urban informality This is a phenomenon observed mostly in developing countries in which most of the residential areas and even new jobs created are mostly informal (e.g Jua Kali jobs n Kenya). The unpredictability of the informal sector is a major challenge to planning in urban areas. 2. Rapid urban growth Rapid urban growth brings with it both challenges and opportunities. Planners must be able to clearly identifies these and attend to them well in advance. The high demand for services, rapid growth of crime and social evils are some of the challenges tha the planners must address. 3. Income inequality The diffenrece between the rich and the poor is mostly critical in urban areas. This contributes to growth in crime rates, use of drugs and other social evils that must be addressed by planners. 4. The youth Bulge This is a demographic trend in most urban areas in developing countries in which the proportion of unemployed youth in the cities is higher than the older population. Planners have challenges in terms of development of social, educational and training facilities to address the youthful needs. Other factors include the rapid growth of unplanned peri-urban areas and issues of linking the green and brown agendas.

2. What in your view are the basic considerations in the preparation of a rural settlement plan? The purposes of rural development planning are: a. Sustainability The plans must ensure sustainability in terms of social, economic and the environment. The plans once implemented should result to a long term sustainability of the area b. Service delivery resulting to an improved quality of life A rural development plan should ensure that the rural folk benefit from social services including sanitation, piped water, infrastructure among others c. Improved growth potential Provision of such facilities as commercial power and piped water, can revolutionarize a rural area to a highly economically productive area in terms of food rural area. d. Equitable distribution of resources A rural development plan should focus on the areas of lack, that when dealt, the area would have equitable and balanced development with respect to the urban areas. e. Integration and accessibility A rural development plan must ensure accessibility and integration of the rural area with the entire region. This should therefore endeavor to provide roads, rails, airstrips among others. A rural development plan should ensure that the country feel associated with the rural areas is not lost. This is achieved by and industries. A physical plan should therefore keenly focus on the improvement of the productivity of a

ensuring minimal interference with the natural beauty of the land including vegetation and landscapes In order to achieve this, a planner must consider the following factors in preparation of a rural development plan; 1. Population and demography The population, population distribution and density are key issues to be considered in the preparation of a rural development plan. The magnitude of services to be designed in a rural development plan such as areas demarcated for sewerage systems, recreational and social areas, schools and health facilities depend on the population size and densities. The bigger the population density, the greater the need for bigger areas allocation. 2. Environmental factors The envronmmental factors such as weather and vegetation will also be factors to consider. Areas like forests and wetlands will be considered as such and therefore better left as public land.

3. Zoning plans In situations where zoning plans are already in place, it is recommended to consider them to ensure that rural settlement plans conform to the entire regional plan. 4. Regulatory factors A planner must consider the existing regulations as a basis in the preparation of rural development plans. These may include factors like the civil aviation regulations, Museums act, environmental management act and the physical planning act among other regulations that may be in place.

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5. Landscape and other natural factors The landscape and other natural factors and phenomena such as areas around volcanically active mountains/hills, and land slopes are important factors to consider. Such areas must be planned in a manner that ensures safety of the communities living there, and to ensure optimal productivity. 6. Human activity It is important to consider the existing social and economic activities of the communities in the region. The plans must ensure enhancement of the communities productivity. 7. Political factors It is important to consider the political environment and other sch social issues that are likely to interfere with the implementation of the plans. This will ensure mitigation of the possible problems well in advance. All this said, it is most critical to ensure involvement of all the stakeholders in any development planning activity. This will ensure that the resultant plans are acceptable to the majority, making it even easier to implement them. 3. What in your view are the anticipated merits in the current constitutional dispensation in as far as physical planning is concerned? The following are the merits of the new constitutional dispensation as far as physical planning is concerned; 1. Devolution Chapter 11, Article 176 (1) of the new constitution states that there shall be a county government for each county, consisting of a county assembly and a county executive.

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Introduction of these County governments operating like small regional governments means it will be easy to carry out planning with the help of the stakeholders, getting quick planning approvals, since the county management understands the issues affecting them and fast-tracking implementation.
2. Review of land law

Clear land policy issues of change of use regulation and even maximum and minimum land ownership capping will go along way in making it easier for physical planners. 3. Regional budgetary allocations This means that there will be money disbursed by the government to the county levels. This will help to easily achieve/implement the plans.
4. Judicial Reforms

The implementation of a new effective and efficient judicial system interprets to a situation where land and planning-related cases are quickly, effectively and efficiently addressed. This will greatly address cases of land grabbing and impunity. This will result to easier rural and planning. 5. Dual Citizenship Chapter 3, Article 16 of the new constitution states that a citizen by birth does not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country. This means that Kenyans by birth who are living and have citizenships in the diaspora are now effectively dual citizens. This means that they will be able to freely live and invest in both of these countries. Kenyans living in the diaspora as stakeholders for sustainable development will bring in new ideas and thus liberalizing physical planning.

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References
1. World

Bank

(2000);

Entering

the

21st

Century;

World

Development report 1999/2000 2. UNCHS (1996); An urbanizing World Global Report on Human Settlements, Nairobi 3. The Physical Planning Act (Kenya), Cap 286; 1996 4. The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 5. The Local Government Act (Kenya) , Cap 265; 1986

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