Identifying and preserving urban landscape identity through public participation in the context of urban renewal : a case study of Kisumu City, Kenya

Abstract

Urban renewal responds to physical deterioration within cities to improve the quality of urban life. Urban renewal in Africa is undertaken in once colonial societies with their existing spatial built forms undergoing changes in post-colonial time thus affecting identities. Urban landscape identity in this study in this study is the resident’s perception of the special features that help them to differentiate between places creating images that they can recognize. With world globalization, cities are striving to be unique and distinctive to attract, promote trade and tourism and as such city identity has become of great importance. This study postulates that a city’s uniqueness and distinctiveness lie in its landscape identity that should not be neglected when creating improved urban environments. The study aimed to verify the degree to which public participation assists in preservation of landscape identity in the process of urban renewal. The specific objectives were: To explore and document the various projects undertaken in Kisumu City’s urban renewal, secondly to investigate the main aspects that constitute the formation of landscape identity, thirdly to investigate the impact of changes in urban form elements due to urban renewal on landscape identity, fourthly to establish how public participation currently contributes to preservation of landscape identity in public renewal projects and lastly to explore gaps and recommend revisions to the planning regulatory controls and policies that support the preservation of landscape identity in renewal projects. The research was done as a case study analysis of Kisumu City, Kenya that has been undergoing urban renewal. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Data capturing was based on mixed methods including archival records, mapping, photographic documentations, field surveys and semi-structured interviews. 384 participants as the sample were involved in the field survey. Interviews were conducted with 20 participants. The findings revealed that Kisumu City had what made it unique and special before the onset of urban renewal projects. The City location along Lake Victoria achieved the highest rating by the respondents as an element of the natural environment having significant influence on the City’s landscape identity. Changes on urban physical forms due to urban renewal had positive impact on the City’s landscape identity thereby making it a beautiful and visually appealing place. The natural environment and man-made forms of the city had a strong symbolic meaning and evoked individual/collective memories among the residents. The participants reiterated that they were not substantially involved in public participation in preservation of the landscape identity of Kisumu City however they were satisfied with the various components implemented and the overall outcome of the renewal. The majority of respondents felt that the City had become a different but better place and that it changed positively after the renewal. The study concluded that to preserve landscape identity, it should be acknowledged in Acts and policies that guide urban renewal and developments and in public participation processes. The study proposes amendments to the existing planning regulatory controls to guide the preservation of landscape identity in Kisumu. The study has brought to light concern for preservation of urban landscape identity within urban renewal projects in post-colonial era in the Global South.