1. THE NATIONAL SPATIAL PLAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Augustine K. Masinde, EBS.
Director of Physical Planning,
Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.
Presented to:
The Architectural Association of Kenya Mentorship Talk
At: The University of Nairobi – ADD Building
Date: 7th June, 2017.

2. Structure of presentation
What is spatial planning?
Who’s mandate is it to undertake spatial planning?
What are the legal provisions with regards to spatial planning?
The National Spatial Plan
What is it?
What are its attributes?
What are its purposes and objectives?
What are the aims of proposed strategies and policies
What are the NSP proposals?
What are the anticipated impacts/benefits?
Conclusion

3. What is Physical/Spatial Planning
Preparation of spatial frameworks for arrangement and organization of socio-economic and environmental activities on land/space at the National, Regional, County and Local levels to achieve optimal use of land and sustainable development.
Seeks to - to promote order, aesthetics, convenience, efficiency, safety and harmony in development.

4. Physical/Spatial Planning mandate
The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, assigns the Physical Planning function to both the National and County Governments. Physical Planning is a concurrent function of both levels of Government.
The National government is charged with the responsibility of formulating general principles of land planning, coordinating planning by the counties and capacity building and technical assistance to the counties on physical planning.
County governments have responsibility for county planning and development.
The National Land Commission is mandated to carry out oversight and monitoring of land use planning throughout the country.

5. NSP CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
PLANNING THEORY AND PRINCIPLES
PLANNING POLICIES
-SESSIONAL PAPER NO. 10 OF 1965
SESSIONAL PAPER NO. 3 OF 2009
THE KENYA VISION 2030
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 60 & 61
FOURTH SCHEDULE
NATIONAL SPATIAL PLAN
LEGAL TENETS
THE PHYSICAL PLANNING ACT,CAP 286
THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ACT ,2012
THE URBAN AREAS AND CITIES ACT,2011

6. CONSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
Articles 60 and 66
Section 21 of Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule

7. POLICY CONTEXT
Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2009 on the National Land Policy
The Kenya Vision 2030

8. Legal Tenets
The Physical Planning Act CAP,286 (currently under review) is the principle legislation for Physical Planning.
The County Governments Act, 2012 which provides a basis for county integrated planning, principles, objectives and types of plans that counties ought to prepare.
The Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011, provides for classification of towns, formation of city/ municipality boards for management of cities and municipalities.

9. The National Spatial Plan (NSP)
A national strategic vision that defines the general trend and direction of spatial development for the country.
Represents the highest level of planning and covers the entire territory of Kenya.
A long term Plan spanning a period of thirty (30) years with 10 year periodical reviews.
Provides an anchor for all other plans by setting strategies and policies that should be mainstreamed into the regional, county and local level plans.

11. The National Spatial Plan Attributes
A major milestone National Spatial Plan (NSP) to be prepared for Kenya
The National Spatial Plan is a Kenya Vision 2030 flagship project regarded as a foundation for socio-economic transformation under the broad area of enablers.
The Plan complements the Kenya Vision 2030 by providing a spatial vision for the country.

12. The National Spatial Plan Attributes, cntd’
Relates to the distribution and organization of people and activities on the national space to promote sustainable development and improved quality of life for the people
Aims at guiding planning by the counties and sectors to achieve competitiveness and economic efficiency, balanced development, improving human settlements, optimizing land use and protection and conservation of the environment
The preparation of the NSP was highly participatory involving the counties, sectoral players, experts in various fields and benchmarking.

13. Purposes and Objectives of the NSP
Create a spatial planning context that enhances economic efficiency and strengthens Kenya’s global competitiveness
Promote balanced regional development for national integration and cohesion
Optimize utilization of land and natural resources for economic development
Create livable and functional human settlements for high quality of life in both urban and rural areas
Secure the natural environment for sustainable development, and
Establish an integrated national transportation network and infrastructure system.

14. The NSP development strategies and land use policies aim at:-
Utilizing the abundant resources and opportunities available in the country while mitigating challenges that may hinder development.
promote spatial growth and development of the country by addressing factors that prevent the country from achieving the intended national goals and objectives.
managing impacts of global competitiveness, optimizing the use of land and other resources, balancing regional development, promoting rural development and managing urbanization.
promoting the creation of livable and functional human settlements for high quality of life in both urban and rural areas.

16. The NSP proposals
Increasing the housing stock by setting aside land for residential development and redeveloping existing housing areas, providing additional infrastructure and facilities to support housing development, providing efficient transportation and locating industrial and service development activities proximate to residential areas to cut on travel time.
Enhance global competitiveness by planning and developing the growth areas of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu as economic hubs, incorporating green belts to act as buffer zones and carbon sinks and regulating developments in the green buffer zones.
Develop principal towns such as Embu, Garissa, Nakuru, Isiolo, Eldoret, Lodwar, Wajir, Marsabit and Nyeri, in accordance with their regional potentials and be promoted as alternatives to the three main growth areas by planning and providing the requisite infrastructure, defining their urban growth limits and enhancing development control processes.

18. The NSP proposals, cntd
Rationalize and support rural growth centres to act as central places and cluster settlements to free the rich agricultural land by providing basic services, promoting agriculture and conservation of the agricultural land
Mapping and prohibiting development in environmentally sensitive areas and ensuring compatibility of developments, providing integrated waste management, providing open spaces, encouraging NMT and zero carbon building standards.
Provision of an efficient, reliable and effective transport system for human settlements by planning and developing an integrated urban transport system, integrating land use and transportation, planning, establishing efficient mass transit public transportation system for all major urban areas, and integrate NMT with existing transport infrastructure.

20. The NSP proposals, cntd
Building institutional capacities, integrating technology in management of human settlements and facilitating public private partnerships in the provision of housing.
Preparing plans for renewal and/or redevelopment of informal settlements and enforcing development control regulations and adherence to building code and standards.
Formulating policy for urban containment and densification, instituting sanctions on idle land to encourage productive and sustainable utilization and creating green belt buffer zones to define the urban and peri-urban areas.

21. Expected benefits of the NSP
Realize Kenya Vision 2030 by landing the flagship projects
Facilitate achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Lead to integration of social, economic and environmental policies
Enhance Kenya's global competitiveness by reducing cost of production, diversification and value addition
Transform the country from agro based economy to industrial and k –economy status

22. Expected benefits of the NSP, cntd
Achieve and sustain efficiency in resource use hence high economic growth rate
Reduce duplication of effort and promote synergy in development objectives esp. between counties
Achieve at least 10% forest cover and restoration of water catchment areas
Provide avenues for a clean healthy environment and adaptation to the effects of climate change.

23. Conclusion
The National Spatial Plan provides principles and policies for development which players in the built environment need to be cognizance of as they formulate development proposals.
There is need for enhanced collaboration among all the players to ensure that development is coordinated and the ideals of the Plan propagated.
This calls for a thorough understanding and appreciation of the National Spatial Plan.

24. Asanteni nyote…