Investigation of public open spaces in Machakos town Municipality, Machakos County, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2017-06
Authors
Mutisya, Mathias Loki
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Public open spaces form an important part of urban life, giving services to people and protect
urban environment. In effective regulations and standards for establishment, setting,
management and maintenance of public open spaces have always been a stumbling block in
ensuring their sustainability, hence the existence of poorly performing, unplanned, and poorly
distributed public open spaces. This study sought to establish why the public open spaces in
Machakos municipality, Machakos County face sustainability challenges. The study aimed to
find out the various types of public open spaces in Machakos Municipality; to examine their
usage, find out measures taken by the stakeholders to ensure proper functioning of the public
open spaces and ultimately to come up with approaches for successful establishment and
management of a sustainable public open spaces system in Machakos Municipality. Primary and
secondary data sources were utilized, with Primary data being gathered from in the form of
questionnaires, interview schedules, observation and photography. Secondary data on the other
hand was gathered through reviewing of existing literature materials and documentations on
public open spaces from Government blueprints and policy documents. The report findings form
a database for information needed towards a theoretical knowledge to help respective
stakeholders in the establishment and management of public open spaces in Machakos town
Municipality. This provides improved public open spaces setting that eventually raise the quality
of life and value of the residents and property respectively. The findings revealed that there are a
number of public open spaces in Machakos Municipality with Machakos People’s park as the
most popular of these open spaces. These spaces are mainly used for relaxation, sports,
recreation, meetings, parking, source of income and physical exercise. These open spaces are
highly used during weekends as opposed to all week through. Majority of them are managed by
the county government of Machakos. However, the study reveals that the open space users are
not satisfied with the management strategies employed by the current regime. They proposed
better open spaces management strategies with all stakeholders involved.
Description
A Research project submitted in Partial fulfilment for the Degree of Masters of Environmental Planning and Management in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University. June, 2017