Urban environmental problems

Urbanization in Kenya is proceeding at a very rapid rate and in the last two decades, the urban population has been growing within the range of 6 to 8 per cent per annum. (1) This present growth and trend of urban centres has resulted in an immeasurable number of urban environmental problems such as slum and squatter settlements, lack of building maintenance, lack of drainage, water supply and sanitation, noise pollution, air pollu­tion and lack of solid waste disposal. The situation in Nairobi, Mombasa and other urban centres has been taken to show how various aspects of the environmental degradation process has affected Nairobi and other urban centres as a means of understanding the current and future urban environmental problems in Kenya. The paper concludes by suggesting strategies which can help in developing a sustainable urban environment in Kenya.