Suburbanization (Essay Sample)

Suburbanization in Kenya
Erick Maina Mwangi
Name of your institution
Suburbanization in Kenya
Introduction.
Suburbanization refers to the process where city dwellers move to the rural-urban areas (Hutchison, R. 1993 page 204). In Kenya, suburbanization has been occurring at a very high rate in the recent past in Kenya. Satellite towns such as Kiambu, Kitengela and Rongai have been undergoing change in the real estate market. These is due to inward population movement. A big percentage of these people commute to work in the City. Kitengela, for example, is undergoing a transformation from an agricultural area well known for livestock rearing to a residential estate. Also a business hub with facilities such as banks and hospitals being attracted to the area in the recent past. These have changed the face of the area and has brought with it the emergence of a highly developing town and a suburb area. Kiambu is another example where the process of suburbanization is taking place. Kiambu County has enormous resources from productive agricultural land to industries and most recently a real estate property boom. Factors behind rapid suburbanization in Kenya include:
Infrastructural development.
The infrastructure development especially the Northern bypass and Thika superhighway are among the reasons why there has been a rapid suburbanization in Kenya. Transportation innovation and improvements in Kenya has reinforced the middle-income earners to live in the suburbs and commute to their places of work using the automobiles this does not consume time for them because of improved transport system. The18 fastest growing areas are around Thika Road near the Central Business District and in Githurai, also located on Thika Road. Towards the western border of the municipality is the site of a large transportation node and informal market settlements located on Thika Road.
Real estate development.
A rise in the real estate industry in Kenya has led to the suburbanization. As new housing is put up at the periphery of urban areas, high-income groups who can afford larger and more modern housing have been moving to these areas leading to the development of suburbs. The majority of the middle class apparently prefer larger single family lots in suburbs to dense multi-family residences in the central city (Harris and R. Lewis, 1993 page 297). The gated communities like Eden Ville and Four Way Junction along Kiambu road are indicators of suburbanization. Residential developments are appearing along Thika Road and within the agricultural lands. Residential developments are distinguished by income and follow patterns of segregated development as seen in Nairobi. Kahawa Sukari consists of large homes surrounded by private walls.
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