Managing the urban environment through partnerships: an emerging experience from Nakuru, kenya

Abstract

It is now widely recognised that governments alone are incapable of bearing the entire responsibility of providing housing, infrastructure and other basic services to their populations. Scarce financial and technical resources and high population growth are straining the capacity of governments to deal with the problems brought on by rapid urbanization. Governments and local authorities are therefore called upon to enlist the support of the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community based groups. This study examines the role of partnerships in managing the urban environment. It outlines the importance of partnerships between various agencies, the challenges they face and the lessons that can forthwith be learnt from them. It emphasizes the need for government to shift its role from that of a provider to that of an enabler/facilitator in the provision of urban infrastructure and services. The study begins by introducing the topic in its global and local context. It also outlines the research problem, research·hypothesis and research methodology. It defines the meaning of partnership and mentions some of the arguments that have been put up for and against partnership in urban management. It also highlights the traditional approach to infrastructure provision (government as sole provider of infrastructure) and its consequent failures. It emphasizes the need for the shift in the government's role from that of provider to a facilitator/enabler in facilitating service and infrastructure provision by other sectors private/commercial and third sectors. It further emphasises the value of partnership in combining the comparative advantages of public, private and third sectors in urban mangement