- Regularizing Informal Sector ‘Jua Kali’ Activities in Nairobi for Sustainable Development    479 kb by    Komollo, Fawcett | foxomollo@gmail.com    Short Outline Livelihoods of the urban poor in developing countries need to be acknowledged. This paper presents a case for sustainable design, use, revitalization and management of open spaces occupied by the informal 'jua kali' sector in Nairobi. Abstract 2008 saw over half of the world’s population living in urban areas. Current projections estimate it to rise to 70% by 2050. Almost all this growth will take place in developing regions. The outcome of increased urbanization has been, and increases to be, a fundamental change in the socio-economic environment of human activities, as it involves new forms of employment, economic activity and lifestyle. Increasing poverty levels in the developing countries and environmental challenge continue to affect urbanization whose transition cannot be halted or indeed reversed. Sustainable Development refers to development that meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs . In this spirit, Spatial Planning in Kenya attempts to meet space needs for activities but its rigidity presents that most of the available spaces are utilized for specific formal activities. The need for survival in an environment of rising unemployment in the formal sector leads to invasion of unplanned open spaces by the poor. What ensues is the ‘informal’ jua kali sector. Little attempt has been made to explore the possibility of accommodating them in Nairobi. Because of an inhibitive regulatory climate, the structures sheltering the activities reflect the state of fear on informal traders, not-knowing when they will be evicted. This paper seeks to present a case for sustainable use, revitalization and management of the spaces occupied by these activities. Keywords REGULARIZATION, INFORMAL SECTOR, NAIROBI. Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2010: Sustainable City - Developing World   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper