Background:
Mavoko, popularly known as Athi River, is a fast growing industrial town located some 25km southeast of Nairobi. It is experiencing rapid change and social upheaval due to a large influx of new residents, gentrification, establishment of new industries and further marginalisation of the urban poor. Mavoko’s rapidly expanding industrial and manufacturing base attracts low-skilled workers from all over Kenya making it one of the fastest growing municipalities in Kenya. The Municipal Council of Mavoko (MCM) is faced with the challenges of responding to these changes and to guide the town’s physical, spatial and economic development, as well as of addressing rapidly increasing urban poverty. Decentralisation and strengthening of Mavoko’s financial and revenue mobilisation are vital for improved performance.

The Municipal Council of Mavoko (MCM) representatives participated in the national consultation process, a partnership platform co-developed with Kenya’s Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Lands and Housing, parastatal organisations such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and national and international NGOs. A town consultation also took place with key local stakeholders. The aim is to develop options for formal interagency collaboration so that a coordination body integrating a wide range of urban stakeholders in a single response mechanism can be established.

Objectives:
To contribute to urban poverty reduction and policy development in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries through an urban sector profile study – a rapid assessment of needs, response mechanisms and capacity gaps to be addressed at the local, national and regional levels.

Activities:

1. Research on the general background of the urban sector in Mavoko, based on the findings of the Mavoko assessment report, a desk study, interviews, and a town consultation held in Mavoko on 21 June 2004. The background includes data on administration, urban planning, economy, informal and the private sector, urban poverty, infrastructure, water, sanitation, public transport, street lighting, energy, health and education.
2. A synthesis of the four main areas – governance, slums, gender and HIV/AIDS and environment – in terms of the institutional set-up, regulatory framework, resource mobilisation and performance. This step also highlights agreed priorities and includes a list of identified projects.
3. SWOT analysis and outlining of priority project proposals for each theme. The proposals include beneficiaries, partners, estimated costs, objectives, activities and outputs.

Results:

• Study introduced to stakeholders and TORs tailored to local contexts
• Urban indicators collected, city assessment and profiling completed
• City consultations undertaken by including different stakeholders from all levels of urban society and priorities identified and agreed upon
• Capacity building gaps identified at the local level
• Priorities identified and project proposals formulated in order to address them

The RUSPS experience shows that decentralisation and strengthening of Mavoko’s financial and revenue mobilisation are vital for improved performance. Further, there is a need for broad-based partnerships that utilise the full potential of the private and informal sectors in urban development and poverty alleviation. Lastly, the municipal council has to concentrate on improving its capacity in terms of physical, economic, and environmental planning, and to focus on pro-poor policies and equitable and efficient urban management.

The published profile can be found under publications.