WHY CITIES NEED SPATIAL DEMOCRACY TO BE LIVABLE

Why cities need spatial democracy to be livable

In the recent past, there has been a marked increase in the number of people living in cities across the globe. As we speak, urban areas are a living combination of history, civilization, diversity and culture. Urbanization has been a force that has changed almost everything: ways of thinking and acting, ways of using space, lifestyle, social and economic relations, and consumption and production patterns. 

On the other hand, cities are also spaces where multidimensional poverty, environmental degradation, and vulnerability to disasters and the impact of climate change are present. Slums, uncontrolled urban sprawl and unplanned development coupled with strain on scarce water and sanitation services render majority of cities in developing nations "cities with no life".

A great deal of effort has been poured to make these cities "livable". The underlying challenge seems so big for any of these efforts to bring any meaningful change. Much work, therefore, remains to be done to achieve this goal. 

It is worth acknowledging that when equity is an integral part of development agenda, the deep structural problems and challenges of cities can be better addressed. Equity is both a moral obligation and a central element of social justice, and becomes part of transformative change. 

According to the Seventh World Urban Forum convened by UN-Habitat in Medellin City in Colombia it is high time for governments, private sector, city planners and development stakeholders to develop, adopt and implement a new urban agenda that requires new technologies, reliable urban data and integrated, participatory planning approaches to respond to both present challenges and emerging needs of cities of the future.

This new urban agenda should be founded on the principle of spatial democracy. For instance, it is "spatially democratic" to limit parking spaces for private vehicles within the city center to create space for big-capacity passenger vehicles. Another case in point is in reserving exclusive lanes for use by Public Service Vehicles (PSVs). 

It does not beat any logic for a bus ferrying sixty city residents to work to compete for space with a private car carrying three persons. 

A service-for-service deal between city authorities and residents may yet be another measure to making our cities clean and service delivery efficient. City residents must be empowered to hold authorities to account on matters city development and innovation. 

To "entice" the residents of informal settlements in the city, authorities must first, as a matter of urgency, offer the needed services and put in place the accompanying infrastructure (markets, bus-stops, clinics, water points, sewers et al) before thinking of imposing any levies on these low-earning city residents.

This way the existing "barrier" between low-earning and high-earning city dwellers ends up crumbling hence leading to cohesive cities with one true solid identity.

Twitter: @mlemukol

OF KALONZO'S GAFFE AND SOMALIS' LONELY CRY

A cursory analysis of any talk, discussion or debate in Kenya gives the impression of a people in perpetual verbal fights. Every news item is characterized by how one (or a coalition of) tribe(s) is accused of allegedly excluding another. Tribesmen thus become intimately wired to "hit back" at their perceived "enemies" to prove their love and readiness to "defend" their community.

But what disturbs most is the hypocrisy that accompanies these exchanges. We rejoice when "others" are hit and only expect the whole world to troop to our side when we are "attacked". The misconceptions and oversimplifications of "otherness" have thus led generations down blind alleys, looking for a “real defender" hence blocking individual's initiative to think and arrive at a reasonable decision. 

It has turned whole communities into robotic machines devoid of self-control and independent critical thinking. 

For the past three weeks Kenyan-Somalis have been rounded and locked up in various police stations in Nairobi and Mombasa. Majority of us Kenyans were (and are still) in agreement with this not because the government is fighting terrorism but for the simple reason that those targeted in the crackdown are not "us", they are "others". 

Any dissenting voice was either branded "tribalist" or "terrorism sympathizer" and quickly silenced. For once we became "nationalists" and discovered our civic duty of aiding the government in dealing a deadly blow to our "enemies".

This gave us a false impression that we are “united” and walking on a positive trajectory to achieving statehood. Yes, I believe a strong State can be the only cure to this tribal ailment. 

This is what social contract theorist Thomas Hobbes summarizes on the question of statehood vis-à-vis the role of individuals: "War… of every man against every man - that human nature provides three causes of quarrel: competition, diffidence (fear), and glory; the first, makes men invade for Gain; the  second, for Safety; and the third, for Reputation."

The three factors - Gain, Safety and Reputation - can only materialize in a state of mutual respect and civility. Which beggars the questions: is Kenya in a positive trajectory when blind tribal solidarity triumphs over reason? Is there any gain in pulling ourselves down? Has division ever developed Man? When did we stop holding individuals accountable for their actions?

It is imperative to remember that statehood is inherent and inseparable from man’s thoughts and actions. It is a fruit of man's own toil and participation. It is not donated by the government. It is nurtured, raised and protected by the people for their own good.

And you know, this comes with an obligation. Citizen participation must be grounded on fidelity to the law, not tribe. 

Discarding this tribal hypocrisy is therefore, the only surest way to wholesome and long-lasting development. Reprimanding others on the basis of their tribes (and not their actions) is our greatest obstacle to fruitful coexistence. For no one can claim to be devoid of tribalism if what he sees in the other is his tribe.

Former Vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka should be made to carry his own cross other than collectivizing the whole Kamba community in his "tribal slur".

Twitter: @mlemukol

MAKE COMMUNITY LAND POLICY PEOPLE-FRIENDLY

Since the discovery of oil in the Kenya's north, a lot has been said concerning the fate of community lands. The talk has always been shifty depending on who speaks. There have been no straight answers on the questions of ownership, administration, exploitation and exploration of these lands. 

The government's eyes seem to be trained on the wealth beneath these lands. The politicos from communities living in this vast territory have no clue of what should be done. You can't tell the difference between the masses and the leaders. If unchecked, this silence is recipe for a bumpy chaotic future.

Community land constitutes close to eighty percent of Kenya's landmass. It is sparsely populated offering the much needed space for urbanization. It is home to over seventy-five percent of Kenya's livestock. Beneath its surface are minerals of unknown value.

With all these goodies, it is imperative for all; government (national and county), leaders, policy makers, communities, business people, civil society to rethink their strategies vis-à-vis these lands.

The existing land regime calls for a total overhaul and restructuring. It is centralized and derives its powers from some invisible behemoths while pushing the real owners (communities) to the periphery on matters land. It negates the input of the people.     

A look at the recent squabbles in Kajiado and Turkana Counties arising from non-consultation and unilateral granting of exploration permits to oil companies is a pointer that our modus operandi must be changed if inclusive development is what joins us. It is time for policy makers and government functionaries to be innovative when dealing with communities.

Unnecessary chest-thumping and reliance on brute force to coerce the people will not yield any fruits. It will likely exacerbate the situation and 'prove' to the people that their land is under 'invasion'. Dealing with the challenge collectively with the people is what is badly needed to lock out quacks and agents of chaos.

There is a great need to rethink the existing community land tenure system with a view to empowering the people and giving them a legal backing to individually and collectively own their lands.

A case in point is in issuance of land titles. Should urban residents in zones gazetted as community lands be barred from applying for individual titles for their lands? For instance, can a resident of Lodwar town in Turkana County (which is gazetted as a community land) be legally empowered to hold a title for his land?

What legal safeguards are there to protect community lands from the insatiable greed of crooked government officials, business people or individual citizens? What prescribed conditions should the State observe before declaring any part of Kenya a community land? Should affected communities be consulted before such declarations are made? If yes, how?

Should communities have a say (directly or indirectly) on exploration and/or exploitation of natural resources?

It is doubtless to state that some of these legal loopholes have contributed to economic marginalization of Kenyans living in community lands. With no possessive powers, the community's hands are literally cut. They can't progress. They can't build their own economic house.

To reverse this, I think, it will be in the public good to empower county governments in whose jurisdictions fall the community lands to identify, declare and gazette urban centers so as to facilitate issuance of individual land titles.

This will encourage people to settle in urban centers thereby cementing the possessive power of the people and ease the government costs of delivering services like water, education and health. It is what is needed to give a lifeline to hitherto marginalized communities.

Twitter: @mlemukol

WHO WILL SAVE LODWAR'S 'WRETCHED OF THE EARTH'?

Sometimes I tend to believe (which I actually do) that I'm a prisoner of my childhood awareness. I still see myself through the mirror of the collective social consciousness of a small village. A set of thinking that puts the collective good before personal and/or individual aggrandizement. Through this, I find it unreasonable and impossible for a society to maintain silence in the face of challenges bedeviling a segment of it (society). I'm literally tortured by this apathy and not-our-duty way of doing things.

Look, hold your breath and be ready to activate your mind. Let me take you through a road up north and to the streets of Lodwar town in the oil-rich Turkana County.

This is a land full of contradictions. It is home to countless number of aid agencies. A cursory look of its dusty streets reveals the true picture that is Lodwar town. Fuel-guzzling N.G.O and government vehicles compete for space with street urchins. It is a daily contest that evokes no sense of guilt and self-reflection.

Residents, stakeholders and government have normalized this. They have accepted to live with it until the 'situation dies a natural death.'

It is a fallacy that is gaining currency and taking root in the minds and souls of all. When will it die a natural death? Who will contain this before it goes out of hand? Is there a will to contain this deadly contest?

To think that the ever-increasing street children of Lodwar, Kainuk, Lokichar, Kakuma, Lokichoggio and their environs will salvage themselves and 'leave us in peace' is myopic, counter-productive and a sign of a decayed collective social consciousness. It is time all men and women of good thoughts to rise up and do something. These are our children. Their challenges are our challenges. We cannot leave them alone.

The county government of Turkana too must wake up and see the reality. A look at the Proposed County Budget for the year 2014/2015 is a true evidence of what awaits these forgotten children. Not even a single shilling has been set aside to meet their needs. They are literally on their own.

You see, not even their government has their interests at heart. Maybe they should continue looking up to the skies and plains of Turkana for help. Who knows? Perhaps Tullow Oil Plc and foreign angels of good tidings have good things in store for them.

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I must thank the church/religious community in Turkana for their great deal of work to improve the lives of the Turkana's wretched of the earth. It doesn't escape me even for a single day to admire their generosity and love. May the Almighty God bless them.

Finally, I want to encourage the minds behind Turklife Youth Program. You form the foundation over which change and progress is built. Keep helping those street children. Don't be distracted by cynics. Keep this close to your heart: whoever says you are too small to make a change, has never spent a night with the mosquito!

Twitter: @mlemukol