It seeks to build new local universities and satellite campuses of world-class universities in America and Europe as part of a plan to build a Sh2.2 trillion higher education market that will attract students from all over the world.
The plan envisages a vast metropolis extending all the way to Limuru, Machakos, Ruiru, Kangundo, Thika and as far as Namanga on the Kenya-Tanzania Border.
Also in the pipeline are a light rail system to connect the suburbs of Nairobi. Among the key goals of the strategy is for Kenya to host the All Africa Games in 2015 and the Commonwealth games in 2018. The ambitious plan aims to create 100,000 new jobs by 2012 by tapping into the fast-growing Information Communication Technology sector.In terms of business investments, Sh133 billion is required to automate the traffic management system and develop infrastructure.The Nairobi River will also be cleaned up as part of a broader campaign to reduce pollution and protect the environment. The Nairobi Metropolitan region covers 15 local authorities among them Thika, Machakos, Tala-Kangundo, Limuru, Kiambu and Ol Kejuado. Others are Masaku, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Karuri, Mavoko and Nairobi itself.
While this plan does not lack in ambition it fails to show how the government and private sector will exactly raise the said funds and whether this will just be another channel for billions to be siphoned away. Furthermore having had the opportunity to travel to many european cities, i am certain it takes many years of planning and involvement of key industries like steel, concrete and business entreprenuers in a countries economy in planning the growth and expansion of cities. It may be better after all to plan for the expansion and redistribution of resources to more viable and untapped regions in the country with the aim of movings jobs away from Nairobi and reducing the strain on this increasingly congested city.
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
Anatole, France.
