The County Government of Nakuru is prioritising inclusion of green spaces when designing plans for the City as one way of mitigating the effects of climate change and curbing air pollution.
Green spaces are defined as any vegetated land or water within an urban area that is undeveloped for purposes of offering a conducive environment for people to play, relax, or even work.
The Nakuru Nyayo Gardens and Menengai Crater Forest are some of Nakuru’s notable green spaces that are described as the lungs of the city as they provide a carbon sink for the city.
County Environment Chief Officer Mr. Kennedy Mungai regretted that most urban cities were being polluted by petroleum products, charcoal, wood, and solid waste, which he said releases greenhouse gases such as carbon, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, which are said to deplete the ozone, weakening its ability to block harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun that cause overheating.
While acknowledging that human activities cause environmental degradation in the cities and towns, the chief officer called for urgent measures to mitigate the effects of these negative activities both on human life and the environment.
“We are urging our urban planners to design urban centres with open and green spaces, which will act as carbon absorbers, air fresheners, and recreational facilities,” Mr. Mungai advised.
Speaking after a tree planting exercise spearheaded by the County Government and Stima Sacco in Nakuru’s Central Business District, the Chief Officer indicated that green spaces in urban areas are not only playgrounds for thrill seekers and recreational areas but also vital components of Kenya’s ecosystem that demand citizens’ protection and stewardship.
He said the tree planting exercise was not only aimed at increasing tree cover but also to create an aesthetically pleasing and healthy environment for the people of Nakuru.
Mr. Mungai acknowledged that urbanisation had come with an array of opportunities where many cities worldwide are increasingly grappling with challenges such as air pollution and traffic congestion, which he said was now raising concern on how the quality of life for people living in cities will be in the future.
He explained that cities and towns are typically a few degrees hotter than the surroundings because of heat released by fossil fuels and absorbed by infrastructure such as asphalt roads and concrete car parks.
The chief officer advised modern city planners to emphasise inter-spacing green spaces and water bodies, with regular infrastructure development to mitigate atmospheric heating and trap carbon emissions.
With the UN-Habitat revealing that health mechanisms remained a critical aspect for sustainable living, Mr. Mungai indicated that now is the time to see how green spaces can be utilised for better health. Prioritising open spaces in cities, he added, will be important in managing health aspects such as stress and enhancing social relations.
Data from the United Nations Habitat indicates that cities consume 78 per cent of the world’s energy and produce 60 per cent of greenhouse emissions, statistics that indicate the importance of green spaces in reducing the impact of climate change.
A study by the SEI Africa Centre has linked pollutants and heating to health issues in cities, with the study highlighting the importance of creating liveable, equitable, and enjoyable urban environments for residents.
Kenya’s urban population has grown at a rate of four per cent, as reported by UN-Habitat in 2020. Since independence, the urban population is said to have increased from 12 per cent to 29 per cent of the total national population. Currently, around 16 million people out of a total population of 55 million reside in urban areas in Kenya.
By Esther Mwangi
