SETTLEMENT

A settlement is a built-up area or a place with housing units where a group of people live
together./ It is a collection of dwellings forming a community.
Human settlements can be grouped into two types - urban settlements and rural settlements.
Urban settlements. Urban means town. Urban settlements have dense populations. People
are engaged mainly in industrial or commercial activities.
Rural settlements. These are built-up areas in the countryside. They consist of villages or
scattered homesteads. They are occupied with primary production activities like agriculture,
fishing and hunting.

Sometimes associated with settlements

Urbanization. It can be defined as
● The growth and spread of towns and town life.
● The process by which a population is transformed from a rural agricultural lifestyle to a
town-based non-agricultural lifestyle.
Urban sprawl. The expansion of a town to occupy areas that would otherwise be used for
agriculture.
Urban growth. The development and expansion of a town due to increased urban boundary,
immigration or increase in births.
Conurbation. An almost continuous urban development formed when individual towns and their
suburbs expand and get close together. / Two or more large urban areas that have merged
together.
Metropolis. A very large urban area.
Megalopolis. It is formed where villages, towns and cities are joined together into one almost
continuous urban region. E.g. Beijing, Buenos Aires, Kolkata, New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai
and Tokyo.

FACTORS INFLUENCING SETTLEMENT

Physical factors
Climate
Rainfall. Areas that receive high rainfall are densely settled because they support agriculture
like Kiambu and Nyeri. Areas that receive low rainfall are sparsely settled because they are
unsuitable for agricultural activities like Marsabit, Kitui and Makueni.
The windward side of a landform has more rainfall and therefore more settlement for example
Meru, Nyeri and Embu. The leeward side has less rainfall thus less settlement for example
NaruMoru and Nanyuki.
Temperature. Areas with cool conditions or moderate temperatures are densely settled as they
can support agriculture. Areas with extreme temperatures e.g. very hot and very cold areas are
sparsely settled as they are uncomfortable for human beings.
Relief. Gentle slopes and lowlands support agriculture and are therefore densely settled e.g.
Kiambu, Muranga, Meru and Nyamira. Steep slopes are sparsely settled because they have thin
soils and are therefore unsuitable for farming./ It is also difficult and expensive to build roads
and houses. Mountain tops are not suitable for settlement as they have a thin soils e.g. the top
of Mount Kenya.
Drainage/ water bodies.Areas near water bodies like rivers, lakes and oceans attract dense
settlements as they provide water for domestic use, irrigation, fishing and transport e.g. the
Lake Victoria Basin, along the River Nile, along the Volta, Zambezi and Tana rivers. /Areas with
scarcity of water discourage settlement since it is difficult to get water for domestic use thus low
productivity.
Pests and diseases. Areas which are free from pests and diseases are densely settled as they
are healthy for animals and people. areas which have recurrent outbreak of disease like malaria
e.g. the Chyulu Hills in Makueni, and along parts of the Tana River have sparse settlement.
Soils. Fertile soils attract settlement because a wide range of crops can be grown in such
areas. Poor soils/ poorly drained soils are unsuitable for arable farming/ prone to water borne
diseases and thus discourage settlement. Major river valleys of the world have rich alluvial soils
thus high density of settlements e.g. the Nile flood plain of Egypt, the flood plains of the River
Ganges(India), the Niger in Nigeria, the Hwang Ho in China and the Mississippi in the USA.
Forests. These discourage settlement as they are habitats for dangerous animals.
Aspect. Windward slopes are densely settled because they receive high rainfall for agriculture/
Leeward slopes are sparsely settled and receive low rainfall making them unsuitable for
agriculture.

Human factors
Historical factors. Many places in West Africa were depopulated due to the slave trade and
therefore had low settlement. During the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s in Kenya, many
Africans were confined in small villages called native reserves forming dense settlements. The
large farms where the colonialists settled had low settlement.
Cultural factors. Religious sites attract believers who settle and form towns like Mecca,
Jerusalem and Rome. Ancestral lands have confined certain groups of people to certain parts of
the country e.g. the Kikuyu in central Kenya and the Akamba in Eastern Kenya. However, this is
changing because people sell their land.
Political factors. Government policy can displace people so as to set up projects e.g. HEP
schemes. Dogman can also set up settlement schemes to resettle landless people. In Kenya
people settled in the former White Highlands after the Europeans left. In Tanzania, the
government through a policy of African socialism established Ujamaa villages where people
lived in certain areas and left the rest of the land for communal farming. Areas experiencing war
have refugees who set up camp along borders e.g along the Kenya - Somalia border, refugee
camps form new settlements e.g Kakuma.
Defence. Settlements were sited on strategic sites like hilltops, islands and plateaus. These
places were safe and secure from enemies. E.g. Kampala, Jerusalem, Dodoma and Edinburgh
are sited on the tops of hills.Island sites are also easy to defend because they are surrounded
by water e.g. New York, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Economic factors. People tend to settle in places that offer economic and social needs e.g.
transport networks. Therefore major towns have dense settlements because they offer
employment and trading opportunities. Well-developed transport like roads facilitate the speedy
movement of goods. Areas which have mineral deposits offer employment.

SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
A settlement pattern is an arrangement or layout of dwellings in a particular place. There are
three main types of settlement patterns:
● Nucleated settlement pattern
● Linear settlement pattern
● Dispersed or scattered settlement pattern.

Nucleated settlement pattern

● It consists of a cluster of dwellings, shops and other buildings in one place.
● Houses are closely packed to one another, compact and concentrated on the land area
to form a cluster.
● It is found in rural settings as villages, around oases or in areas where irrigation
settlement schemes have been established.
● It is referred to by different names in accordance to size and function e.g. villages,
towns, ports and cities.
Factors influencing the development of nucleated settlement patterns
● Availability of social amenities such as schools and health centres
● Presence of natural resources such as minerals, water and rich agricultural land.
● Limitation of building land leading to clustering of buildings in one place.
● Security concerns especially in bandit prone areas.
● Government policy that requires people to settle in a particular area e.g. sites for
generating HEP.
● Sheltered indentations on coastlines like Singapore and Melbourne.
● Mineral wealth e.g. at Magadi, Kenya; Kasese, Uganda; Mwadui, Tanzania and
Kimberley in S. Africa.

Linear settlement pattern

● It takes the form of a line.
● It developS a long coastline, navigable rivers and transport lines.
● Presence of a road. People settle along a road where there is speedy movement of
goods thus forming a linear settlement..
● Existence of rivers. People settle along rivers where water for domestic or irrigation is
available.
● Presence of a coastline. This favours fishing and navigation thus forming linear
settlements.
● Suitable terrain. People settle at the foot of a cliff or a scarp where the land is gentle
leading to linear settlement.
● Forest boundary. People tend to settle along a forest where firewood is available as
well as timber for construction.
 ● Labour lines. Labour camps are formed at the edges of a plantation forming a linear
settlement.

Dispersed or scattered settlement pattern

● The dwellings or structures are scattered.
● The houses or dwellings may be separated from one another by physical features such
as valleys, rivers or ridges.
● The dwellings or houses are found a distance apart.

Factors influencing the development of dispersed settlement patterns

● Low population in an area.
● Availability of land for settlement and cultivation.
● Availability of evenly distributed water resources e.g. every house has a tap or reservoir.
● Good security. People discuss as they don't need to stay close together for security
reasons.
● In areas of low agricultural production due to low rainfall and high temperatures such as
the North Eastern area of Kenya/ areas with harsh climate.
● Individuals own large tracts of land where extensive agriculture is practised like the
coffee plantations in Kiambu County or individually owned ranches in Laikipia.
● Mountainous and forested areas.
● Presence of certain physical features which separate houses such as lakes.

Radial settlement pattern

● It mainly occurs where there are crossroads.
● People tend to build their houses in all directions along the radiating roads.
● The resultant pattern is shaped like a star. It is also called star-shaped pattern.
● It starts as a nucleation then spreads out along the major roads as a result of new
developments like new shops.
● It can be attributed to accessibility of transport.

DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR URBAN CENTRES IN EAST AFRICA

Various factors have led to the growth of urban centres in East Africa. They include:
● Historical factors. Some towns developed due to trade, as resting places during the
building of the Kenya-Uganda railway line. Some like Mombasa developed as the island
formed a strong defensive site for the Portuguese.
● Transport and communication. Roads and railways brain development and growth of
urban centres. Some urban centres have developed as important road and railway
junctions. Some urban centres have developed as rail heads. Some urban centres have
developed as meeting points “Makutano towns”.
● Presence of minerals. Mineral resources give rise to mining towns where mining
activities are carried out.
● Industrial activities. Industrialisation creates many job opportunities at different levels.
This brings about the development of towns.
 ● Presence of ports. Ports handle export and import trade. This creates employment
opportunities which bring about the development of towns.
● Administrative centres.Administrative functions of the government attract people to
urban centres. People tend to live in centres where they get essential services and
where security is provided.
● Tourism. Tourist attractions have given rise to centres which are devoted to tourism.
● Agricultural collecting centres. These settlements started as agricultural collecting
centres for agricultural hinterlands and grew into big town's. They are located in
agriculturally productive areas. They provide markets for agricultural goods.
● Education. Educational institutes have large populations which need a variety of social
and economic facilities. These have developed into large settlements contributing to
urban growth.
● Government policy. A government may decide to decentralize industries. This could be
so as to reduce congestion in the city, reduce rural urban migration and reduce
environmental pollution. Industries are therefore located away from major urban centres
and the centres where they are relocated to grow into new urban centres. A government
may also want to decentralize administration. services.

GROWTH AND FUNCTIONS OF SELECTED TOWNS IN KENYA

THIKA TOWN
Thika is an industrial town which is located on the Eastern edge of the Kenyan Highlands. It is
about 40 km to the north east of Nairobi. It is one of the most industrialized towns in Kenya with
several manufacturing and processing Industries.
Manufacturing Industries include:
Flour milling, bread baking, coffee milling, tobacco treatment, fruit canning, tanning of hides and
skins, light engineering, vehicle assembly and maintenance, textile, paper milling and steel
rolling.
Factors that have contributed to the growth of Thika town
● The abundant water supply from River Chania which is used for industrial purposes.
● The roads or railway links which have made accessibility easier. Thus it is easy to
receive raw materials and sell industrial products.
● The high population around Thika provides a ready market/ labour for the industrial
products/ industries.
● The rich agricultural hinterland has provided raw materials for industries.
● Nearness to Nairobi has led to industrial interdependence or an easy access to supplies.
● The government policy of decentralization of industries has encouraged growth.
● There is extensive flat land for settlement or industries.
● Adequate social amenities like the Thika District Hospital.

Functions of Thika town

● Administrative centre
● Educational center
 ● Communication Centre
● Tourism Centre
● Recreational center
● Religious centre
● Commercial centre
● Residential Centre

KISUMU TOWN
It is a lake port. It started as a small fishing settlement on the Winam Gulf/ Kavirondo Gulf on the
eastern shores of Lake Victoria. It was later named Port Florence and finally Kisumu. It is the
main port on Lake Victoria and the third largest city in Kenya after Nairobi and Mombasa.

Factors that have contributed to the growth of Kisumu town

● Its location on the shores of Lake Victoria ensures adequate supply of water for domestic
and industrial use.
● It is the terminus for the Kenya-Uganda railway and it handles goods to and from
Uganda and the surrounding areas.
● It is strategically located on the shores of Lake Victoria.
● The surrounding areas are highly populated and thus act as a pool of labour for the
various industrial plants in the city.
● It was a regional headquarters for the Colonial administration and is now the
headquarters of Kisumu County.
● It allowed the influx and settlement of early Asian traders leading to the commercial
development of the town.
● It is surrounded by a rich hinterland with mineral and agricultural resources which
provide raw materials for the development of industries or which provide food for the
town.
● There are many fishing activities on Lake Victoria.
● The nearby rivers and Lake Victoria provide fresh water for industrial or domestic use.
● The well-developed means of transport e.g. road, rail, air make the town easily
accessible from other parts of the country.
● It has many Industries.

Functions of Kisumu Town

● Administrative centre
● Educational centre
● Tourist centre
● Recreational centre
● Communications Centre
● Agricultural centre
● Religious centre
● Commercial centre
● Residential Centre
 ● Industrial centre

ELDORET TOWN
It is an agricultural collecting centre which is located in the highlands on the western part of the
Rift Valley. The town is located in an area that experiences a cool wet climate. Eldoret was
started by the white settlers around 1900.

Factors that have contributed to the growth of Eldoret town

● Eldoret started as a railway station on the Kenya-Uganda railway and has attracted
settlement by people from around the town.
● It is a rich agricultural collection and processing centre.
● It is located in an area that experiences a cool and wet climate ideal for settlement.
● The terrain of the land is a plateau which allows for expansion.
● It has modern infrastructure such as an international airport which encourages trade.
● The high population in the surrounding region provides a market for agricultural and
manufactured goods. It also provides labour for industries.
● The government policy of decentralization of industries led to the setting up of some
industries in the town.
● Eldoret is the county headquarters for Uasin Gishu County and has attracted
administrative services to the town.
● The establishment of many educational institutions around the town has attracted
settlement.

Functions of Eldoret Town

● Educational centre
● Industrial Centre
● Commercial centre
● Religious centre
● Entertainment Centre
● Transport Centre
● Administrative centre

RELATED STUDIES OF SELECTED URBAN CENTRES IN THE WORLD

NAIROBI AND NEW YORK
Nairobi city
● Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and is located south of the Equator.
● The name Nairobi is derived from a Maasai word meaning place of cool waters.
● It is the largest city in East Africa and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa.
● Nairobi was founded by railway engineers while building the Kenya-Uganda railway at
the end of the 19th century.
New York City
● New York is the largest city in North America and the largest port on the east coast of the
USA.
● It is situated at the estuary of the River Hudson where the river enters the Atlantic
Ocean.
● A section of the city is situated on the mainland while part of it is made up of a group of
islands namely Long Island, Staten Island, Manhattan and Jersey. It is a cosmopolitan
City.

Factors that have led to the growth of Nairobi City

● Nairobi grew as the headquarters for the Kenya-Uganda railway line during its
construction. It's cool climate attracted many settlers and soon the town became their
market collecting centre.
● The city is cited on the low-lying plains of the Athi River which has favoured its
expansion.
● The city is surrounded by densely populated areas such as Kiambu, Thika, Athi River
and Ngong which provide the labour required in the many Industries that have grown in
the city. the population also provides a market for goods.
● It is surrounded by a rich agricultural hinterland which provides food for the dense
population.
● It is a major administrative centre. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya and all
administrative offices are located here.
● Nairobi is the main industrial centre of the country. Some of the industries include vehicle
assembly, food processing, general engineering and glass making.
● Nairobi is the centre of transport and communication. The city is well linked by efficient
transport and communication lines which attract very many Industries,traders and
service activities that facilitate its fast growth.

Factors that have led to the growth of New York City

● The relatively warmer temperature along the coast attracted many early settlers. The first
settlers were the Dutch and later on the British. With the expansion of trade many
traders were attracted mainly from Western Europe leading to its growth.
● New York is sighted on a fairly flat extensive landscape with a hard metamorphic
basement rock which has made the building of skyscrapers possible. The low-lying
landscape has also made construction of transport facilities and expansion of the city
very easy. The city has grown so much that it forms a large conurbation made up of
several towns.
● New York is the leading industrial centre in North America. Its main Industries include
pharmaceuticals, food processing ,engineering, machinery, pulp and paper and textiles.
The city also houses numerous international influential financial institutions such as
banks, the stock exchange and insurance.
 ● Transport and communication Centre. New York is connected to all parts of the world by
sea routes. It has three international airports and is connected to all parts of North
America by air,road and railway. it handles the greatest volume of import-export trade in
North America. It has a modern harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River.
● The New York port serves a very rich hinterland which includes the Great Lakes, the
interior plains of the south and Pennsylvanian agricultural and industrial areas. It is
therefore able to collect and distribute goods to and from the hinterland.
● International Centre. Several international organisations have their headquarters in New
York such as the United Nations Organisation. New York is also the leading world trade
and finance centre based on Wall Street.
● Education and cultural centre. New York City has numerous universities, colleges,
schools and training centres. The city is also internationally recognised as a fashion and
Art Centre. It is also a leading cultural centre in the USA.

Functions of Nairobi City Functions of New York City

Industrial Centre Industrial Centre

International Centre International Centre

Residential Centre Residential Centre

Education and cultural centre Education and cultural centre

Transport and communication centre Transport and communication Centre

Recreational centre Recreational centre

National commercial/ Financial centre International commercial and financial centre

Financial and trading Centre Financial and trading Centre

Administrative centre Administrative centre

Inland Port Sea port

National capital State capital

Problems facing Nairobi City

● Pollution and environmental deterioration due to the poor sewerage and garbage
disposal/ increased noise/ air/ land and water pollution. There is pollution in the
environment from the gases and fumes emitted from vehicles and industries. Noise
pollution comes from hooting of motor vehicles and loud music from night clubs. Water
pollution is from waste disposal/ discharge into the Nairobi River and land pollution from
garbage.
 ● Strain on social amenities like hospitals, schools and sewage facilities. Available social
amenities are congested due to the large number of people requiring the services.
● Unemployment and idleness leading to high crime rate.
● Erosion of moral values resulting in social ills like immorality.
● Traffic congestion during rush hours and in the rainy season.
● Inadequate housing facilities due to the large population which lead to the development
of slums.

Problems facing New York City

● Land is scarce and expensive. There is limited space for expansion. This has led to
overcrowding due to the dense population.
● There are several toll bridges, tunnels,ferries from Manhattan to the other areas of New
York. These are very expensive making transportation costs very high.
● Traffic congestion. This is acute in New York which is faced by heavy traffic jams
especially during the rush hours. The high number of vehicles in town cause there to be
inadequate parking areas.
● Air pollution. This is due to the high concentration of industries and vehicles.
● Housing is a major problem in the city and more than 60% live in apartments. Slums
have developed in Harlem,Bronx and Brooklyn. This has led to high crime rates in the
city.
● Unemployment. Many immigrants face a lot of difficulty in getting jobs. Widespread
unemployment has led to a threat in security and the social well-being of residents of
New York.

RELATED STUDIES OF SELECTED PORTS IN THE WORLD

MOMBASA PORT
Mombasa is the largest port in the East African region and the second largest city in Kenya. It is
partially situated on the mainland and partially on Mombasa island in the Indian Ocean. The
island is surrounded by creeks like Kilindini, Tudor, Kipevu and Port Reitz. The island is
connected by Nyali Bridge to the northern mainland and to the north coast. Kipevu Bridge
connects the island to Kipevu oil terminal and the western suburbs. Connection to the south
coast and Tanzania is through Likoni and Mtongwe ferries.

Factors that led to the growth of Mombasa Port

● Its strategic position on the East coast of Africa made it an ideal calling point for traders
to and from the Far East. It handles ships from Europe using the Suez Canal to Asia and
India or Africa.
● The island provides a good defensive site against external threats.
● The flat land was ideal for construction of buildings.
● The deep water on Mombasa and Kilindini channels provided a natural harbour for
traders.
● Rivers Mwachi and Kombeni provided fresh water for domestic use.
● The coral limestone found in the area was used as building stones for houses.
 ● Mombasa serves a very rich and large hinterland. This includes all parts of Kenya, the
southern part of Sudan. Rwanda, northern Tanzania, Burundi and the DRC. The port
also handles imports destined for the interior. Mombasa port has become an entrepot
goods on transit are brought for temporary storage before they are exported. This has
promoted import and export trade leading to the growth of the port.
● Mombasa is a tourism and cultural centre. Many hotels in the area have attracted a large
population to the town, as they have created jobs for many people.
● Mombasa is an administrative centre hence it attracts people seeking administration
services.

ROTTERDAM
Rotterdam is located in the Netherlands and is the largest port in Europe. It is found on the
estuary delta of River Rhine. The estuary used to experience a lot of silting due to a lot of
deposition of alluvium by the rivers Rhine and Meuse. This made the river channels very
shallow and at the mouth of the rivers, large ships could not pass hence could not reach the
port. The river mouth would be blocked by sand bars and shallow lagoons which made
navigation impossible. This hampered the growth and development of Rotterdam port and for a
longtime it remained a small port. During the Second World War Rotterdam was destroyed
retarding its growth. However it was rebuilt after the war and continued to steadily grew to
become one of the leading ports in the world. It is the most important entrepot in Europe,
handles the largest tonnage of goods and is the busiest in the world. (An entrepot is a
commercial centre where goods are trans-shipped through the port to other parts of the world.)

Factors that led to the growth of Rotterdam Port

● The construction of the new waterways canal from Rotterdam to the North Sea coast.
The canal deepened the shallow part of the river and bypassed areas covered by sand
bars. It was able to accommodate large ships.
● The port of Rotterdam has very modern handling facilities. It has several container
terminals, berths, quays, wharves and oil termini.
● Rotterdam has a very large rich hinterland. It includes Netherlands, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.
● Rotterdam is strategically located in relation to sea routes to and from America, Africa
and various parts of Europe. The port also enjoys warm weather as it is washed by the
warm North Atlantic drift current which keeps temperature warm and also makes the port
ice-free throughout the year including winter.
● Rotterdam is an industrial centre since it is the main industrial zone in the Netherlands.
Some of its industries include oil refining, the petrochemical industry, shipbuilding and
repair, engineering and food processing. These Industries depend on raw materials
some of which are imported through the port making Rotterdam a collecting and
distributing centre.
Functions of Mombasa and Rotterdam
Similarities
● Both ports are open for use throughout the year due to favourable weather conditions.
● Both ports are located at the mouth of drowned rivers.
● Both ports have a rich and extensive hinterland.
● Both ports have containerized terminals.
● Both ports are leading commercial centres.
● Both ports are transport and communication centres.
● Both ports are industrial centres.

Differences

Mombasa Rotterdam

● Mombasa is located on the mouths of ● Rotterdam is located on the mouth of

Rivers Mwachi and Kombeni the River Rhine.

● Relies on road, railway, air and ● Relies on road,railway, air, pipeline

pipeline to transport goods to the and river canals to transport goods to
interior. the interior.

● The port has had very limited ● The port uses advanced technology in
expansion in technology. cargo handling.

● The port handles less cargo as ● The port has expanded to a new outer
compared to Rotterdam. port known as Europort.

● The port handles less cargo. ● The port handles a large volume of
cargo.

● The port experiences tropical climate ● Report experiences cool temperate

or modified equatorial climate. climate or cool temperate west margin
climate.

● The port has fewer berths. ● The port has a large number of
berths.

EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION
Positive effects
● It encourages national unity as people of different nationalities come together to interact.
● It promotes links between countries as communication networks tend to focus on and
are more developed in urban centres.
● It creates employment opportunities through the establishment of commercial and
industrial activities which attract people who provide labour.
 ● It leads to the development of infrastructure such as roads both within the urban area
and the surrounding rural areas.
● It provides a market for agricultural and industrial goods produced in the country thus
promoting trade.
● It stimulates the development of educational facilities.

Negative effects
● Pollution and environmental degradation due to the poor sewage and garbage disposal.
Some industries discharge effluent into rivers polluting water. Garbage is generated from
institutions like factories, open air markets and from households. Some industries in
urban centres emit smoke and gases that pollute the air.
● Strain on social amenities such as hospitals, schools and sanitation. These are
inadequate, leading to overcrowding and low quality health and education services.
● There is unemployment and idleness leading to a high rate of crime and social evils.
● Urbanisation encourages the erosion of moral values resulting in social ills like
immorality.
● Inadequate housing facilities due to overpopulation which leads to the development of
slums.

Factors that contribute to the emergence of slums

● Low income due to unemployment.
● Shortage of proper houses.
● Inadequate financial ability.
● High cost of land or houses in other parts of the town.
● Poor urban planning.
● High rates of migration into urban centres.

Causes of traffic congestion in urban centres in Kenya

● Concentration of administrative or commercial or educational functions in the CBD.
People therefore move to the CBD during rush hour.
● The narrowness of streets or the poor state of roads or the presence of roundabouts
cause the movement to be slow.
● Increase in the number of commuter vehicles which are more than the existing space
available to accommodate them.
● Similar work schedules for most employees thus people report to and leave work at the
same time leading to congestion.
● Failure of motorists to comply with traffic rules thus interfering with the smooth flow.

INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF AN IDEAL URBAN CENTRE

The internal structure of an urban centre is varied such that it is not easy to generalize on a
universal basis. The diversity of internal structures of urban centres is based on the physical
conditions of the site, function of the urban centre, governing urban policies, planning
consideration (goals) and historical background of the urban centre. The most commonly used
method in describing the internal structure of an urban centre is zoning.

ZONING
Urban centres may be formed on the basis of land use. The following urban land use zones
have been employed to derive general models of the internal structure of an urban centre.

Central Business District (CBD)

● It is known as the city centre.
● It tends to have the highest concentration of the tallest buildings in an urban centre.
● It has a very high rental value for its limited space and therefore houses, offices and
shops are very expensive.
● Vertical extension of buildings highlights the need to maximize the utilisation of available
space.
● The Nairobi CBD encompasses the area enclosed by Uhuru Highway, Haile Selassie
Avenue, Moi Avenue and University Way.

Transition zone
● It has older buildings which are to be replaced by the expansion of the CBD.
● It has activities requiring proximity to the CBD though located in areas with low land
values.
● These activities are therefore located on the peripheral of the CBD. They include
government offices, shopping malls and wholesale outlets.
● In Nairobi it is the area to the east of Tom Mboya Street, Ngara area, Upper Hill area
(community) and Westlands.

Industrial zone
● It spreads over a railway line or near a port to ease transport.
● It performs mainly industrial functions.
● Large Industries are located here.
● In Nairobi it is along the railway line towards Athi River and at Ruaraka.
● There is an EPZ at Ruaraka, along Mombasa road outside the city and outside
Mombasa city near Mariakani.

Residential zone
● It is found on the outskirts of towns.
● Low-income residential areas and found next to industrial zones.
● Houses are old and dilapidated e.g. Makongeni, Kaloleni, Muthurwa, Eastleigh,
Makadara.
● Middle-income residential areas are located immediately after the low-income zone. E.g.
Buruburu, Southlands, Kimathi and Donholm areas in Nairobi.
 ● High-income residential areas are located on higher ground or farthest from industrial
areas. Houses are large and have large gardens. Streets are broad and tree-lined. E.g.
Muthaiga, Hurlingham, Westlands, Lavington and Runda.
N.B
It is difficult to zone slums and squatter settlements. They are generally found next to
high income residential areas. E.g. Muthaiga - Mathare Valley, Lavington - Kawangware.
Others are next to industrial areas e.g. Korogocho, Mukuru and Kibera.

Commuter zone
● This is an area with high land value though not as high as the CBD.
● It merges into the surrounding rural areas.
● High transport costs and spacious expensive residential units in this zone are suitable for
upper-income earners.
● In Nairobi this includes Nyari, Runda, Karen.
● This zone changes according to relief, demand for land and social conditions.