Community participation in sustainable urban infrastructural and environmental planning: A Case study of Voi town.

Abstract

Roads, water and sanitation are among the most important infrastructural packages which form the environment. Improved environment in urban areas depends among other things on the provision, utilization and maintenance of the above infrastructural :facilities. The study has there:fore examined the in:infrastructure situation and how it influences the current pattern of urban growth in Voi town. The study has also examined the institutional set up and its capacity :for planning and management o:f the town. The study has shown that despite the importance of roads and water supply on creation of employment opportunities, improvement of incomes and smooth running of urban affairs, the utilization and maintenance o:f these two :facilities is inadequate. This is attributed to lack of adequate resources by the Voi Municipal Council, lack of adequate :financial resources by the National Water Conservation and Pipe line Corporation, due to the scattered pattern o:f development and :finally due to the application of imported planning standards which are not in accordance with the existing local conditions.

It has been also established in this study that there is no Municipal sewer. Most people use shallow not fully serviced pit latrines. Household waste water is disposed of by shallow trenches which are poorly maintained. The poorly shallow maintained trenches are characterised by stagnant water which form breeding grounds for mosquitoes and also home for other disease causing vectors such as worm infestations, diarrohea, skin and eye diseases. The reasons as to why people use shallow not fully serviced pit latrines and shallow trenches for disposal of household waste water are the geological structure and lack of financial resources. Topography was found to be a factor affecting the general provision and utilization of infrastructure in the town. To improve the current infrastructure , the study examines the role of the community in the planning and management of Voi town. Furthermore, the study recommend ways of using the community as o. means to achieving more sustainable development and environmental quality in the town