Abstract:
Peri-urban areas are transitional zones characterised by subdivision of agricultural
land to urban plots which foreruns sprawled development. Whereas forms of urban
sprawl and patterns are well articulated in the literature, however, the drivers are not
explicitly linked to the patterns; which this paper provides. This paper posits that in
absence of systematic planning, development control and provision of basic
environmental infrastructure to guide development; peri-urban land development is
shaped by different drivers at different developmental period depicted by organic
growth patterns. This paper examines pattern and drivers of land development in
(Greater) Eastern Bypass peri-urban areas of Nairobi Metropolitan over the last two
decades. Overlay of subdivision shape files and satellite images for the period 2000
and 2020 at intervals of five years are used to depict pattern of development. Leapfrog
measure for the land abutting the major roads is calculated to determine the rate of
development. Maps on development patterns are overlaid with utility and amenities
maps to relate patterns and drivers. Findings reveal that different patterns of
development observed at different period are attributable to drivers such as developed
road infrastructure, history of the place, available amenities and utilities. Leapfrogged
development characterized by clustered and dispersed settlements marks onset of
development in the peri-urban area, but decreases over time depending on
development of basic infrastructure. Increased land subdivision triggered by
speculation does not imply readiness of land for development, but it foreruns land
conversion and leapfrog development. Land development should be preceded by
planning of land use and provision of basic infrastructure, amenities and services to
reduce the effects of sprawled urban expansion.
