Concrete jungle: Developers steal children's recreational space
You won’t miss the three young boys behind a five-floor block of apartment at Clayworks estate playing different kinds of games on any fine day.
For the three boys, who are enjoying the last bit of their school holiday, every second counting down on the clock is a moment to create new memories.
On this particular day, these boys are playing a game called Sita, a game which involves two people kicking a plastic bottle half-filled with water or sand and tied to a wooden pole using a string.
“We like playing football, but the boy who has the ball is yet to arrive,” says Darlington Masese, a Class Seven pupil at Brainstorm Academy in Githurai.
The game of Sita involves two players standing next to each other. The third boy acts as a referee and ensures the players don’t use their hands at all, a move that results in an immediate punishment by a penalty kick just like it happens in a football game.
Blocking an opponent is also against the rules. John Deng, a pupil at MacWilliams Academy, who is acting as the referee, explains that to block the other is tantamount being caught offside a football pitch and also attracts a penalty kick.
NO PLAYGROUND
Braulio Wanga, who plays as a striker in his Mwiki Good Hope Academy football team and draws lots of inspiration from his namesake and Kenyan acclaimed former striker Allan Wanga, explains that Sita helps him gain flexibility, something he will need to further his goal of playing football professionally.
But despite their love for games, these boys lack a designated place where they can engage in play while at home, the fact that they would be home for more than two months notwithstanding.
Masese tells DN2 that they have been moved from several playgrounds to pave the way for new houses.
Like many estates in Nairobi, Clayworks, a sprawling middle-class neighbourhood in Kasarani where these kids live, lacks a playground.
Interestingly, a few metres from where these children are playing a fading signboard declares the estate a zoned area, with residents expected to build single dwelling units.
This is despite several high-rise apartments already built and several others in the pipeline.
“In partnership of City Council of Nairobi and Clayworks Welfare Association, this is a controlled development area, single dwelling unit per plot. Excess areas set aside for commercial and public utility,” the enforcement notice reads, listing more than 10 pieces of land set aside for a commercial zone and public utility space.
GREED, POOR PLANNING
A spot-check by DN2 could not establish the open spaces as almost every corner and opening of this estate is occupied by a flat.
Henry Ochieng, the Kenya Alliance of Resident Association (Kara) CEO, told DN2 that this is not a unique problem to Clayworks, but one that cuts across the city.
“If you look at most estates in Nairobi, many of them don’t have adequate space for children to play and go about their business. This is a problem that cuts across several estates. And it’s for different reasons,” Ochieng says.
One of them, he says, is that developers failed to factor open spaces for children when planning in the estates.
He adds that the other reason has got to do with greed in the sense that even where open spaces had been left out, they have been grabbed and put to a different use altogether.
On paper, Kenyan children ought not to worry about where to play. In Nairobi, for instance, before a building development is approved, the county urban planning policy requires that a developer leaves at least 20 per cent of the piece of land open for recreation.
According to Patrick Analo, an urban planner, global regulation by the World Health Organisation dictates that every human being is entitled to a minimum of 15 square metres of open space to unwind and socialise with nature.
COUNTY LAXITY
He adds that one of the requirements of urban planning is that a developer should provide for recreational open spaces for children and young people.
“These spaces play a very critical role as a place where young people meet for recreation, exercising and socialising. It is important for physical health and it makes a city look beautiful and attractive to live in,” he says.
The country is also compelled by an international treaty to ensure children have facilities to engage in cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activities.
In 1990, Kenya became the 20th member and the first African country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that is defined as a benchmark against which a nation’s treatment of its children can be measured.
Article 31 of the treaty states that every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
“Member governments shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity,” reads the article.
OBESITY INCREASE
Yet in many countries, time, space and opportunities for outside free play areas, especially in fast-growing cities such as Nairobi, have actually been declining, thanks to rapid and unplanned urbanisation. But as much as children having safe spaces to play is a rights issue, it is also a health issue.
For instance, a 2017 study by Lancet showed that the number of obese children and adolescents worldwide has risen tenfold in the past four decades, with more boys than girls getting fatter.
The study done by the World Health Organisation and Imperial College London revealed obesity in those aged between five and 19 years has increased from one per cent (which is equivalent to five million girls and six million boys) in 1975 to nearly six per cent in girls (50 million) and nearly eight per cent in boys (74 million) in 2016.
Combined, the number of obese five-to-19-year-olds rose more than tenfold globally, from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016.An additional 213 million were overweight in 2016 but fell below the threshold for obesity.
Interestingly, and quite unsurprisingly, at the heart of the problem, researchers found out, is lack of physical activity.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Whether it’s running, jumping, climbing, swinging or sliding, research shows that play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood as well as social, emotional, intellectual and physical development.
Terry Maina, a child protection officer and director of Value Life Foundation Trust, says when children are asked about what they think is important in their lives, playing and friends is usually at the top of the list.
“Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Psychologically, for instance, it is a stress reliever,” she says.
While children might be said not to have stress episodes, Maina says they actually do. This is because at that age, and as they grow up, they are also developing their ego.
In terms of overall growth, research has found that when children are playing, they are learning reflexes and movement control, developing fine and gross motor skills and increasing flexibility and balancing skills.
On top of that, when they are involved in physical activity, they’re building stronger muscles and improving bone density, improving heart and lung function and preventing obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol.
LEARNING LIFE SKILLS
Additionally, they acquire important life skills such as problem solving, communication and negotiation skills, self-awareness and crucial values such as kindness, caring and integrity.
“Paediatricians say boys’ testosterone develop even more quickly at the age of five to 10 years. So the rough and tumble games is meant to test the limits of the energy they feel they have,” says Maina.
She underpins the importance of play for girls, saying that the innate nurturing character synonymous with the female gender is picked and moulded at this age and mostly during games with their peers.
Apart from these benefits, play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to bond with their children.
Without safe playgrounds, Maina expresses concern that children are turning to gaming cafés to play video games, a rather unhealthy alternative to physical activity.
“They are doing so to feed a certain fantasy. When a child puts down the joy stick or whatever it is they use, the question to ask is ‘what lesson will they have learnt?’ It’s no wonder that nowadays when children fight, the scene is usually very violent, because of that fantasy world they visit every day,” she says.
NEED FOR NEW SKILL SET
Despite a widespread belief that time spent on electronic devices is the major reason that children are spending more time indoors, researchers in the developed world have found out that outdoor play has been declining for decades.
They hold that lack of better playgrounds is the reason children spend most of their time indoors.
“I don’t buy the argument that the screens are keeping the children from the playgrounds,” Susan Solomon, an architectural historian and the author of American Playgrounds, told the New York Times.
“If the playgrounds were better, children would be there. Better playgrounds would definitely give screens a run for their money.”
As Kenya rushes to rollout the new competency-based curriculum, which focuses on a child’s talents and skill sets, it appears playgrounds are going to play a key role.
For instance, during this year’s World Economic Forum, a number of global organisations, including the Lego Foundation, IKEA, Unilever, and National Geographic, through a coalition, made the case that our world is changing so rapidly that the workers of tomorrow need a different skill set — one that’s based on the skills you learn through play. These are confidence, creativity, and critical thinking.
Maina seems to read from the same script. She says: “Almost every creative — think of artists like drawers or painters — turns to the child in them to do what they do.”
ROOM TO INNOVATE
And children don’t need much really, Maina says, just an empty and safe space to begin with.
“I disagree with those who say that we need to provide children with space and play equipment. When we say that a child’s character is built when they go out to play, that only happens when we leave them to innovate. A playground is the place for innovation,” Maina opines.
So, what about the playgrounds in shopping malls where parents troop over the weekend with their children to play, we ask?
“That kind of controlled and choreographed play is not good for them,” Maina says. “When you guide their play, children will not explore beyond that. Let children innovate their own games.”
Considering that urban areas are the worst hit by among other things illegal acquisition of playgrounds, urban residents have a big role to play in protecting children spaces.
BE PROACTIVE
Giving the example of Lang'ata and South C estates, where residents associations have succeeded in taking back grabbed play areas, Ochieng says that the way forward is for residents to be more proactive in protecting such areas.
“What needs to happen is that whenever people are moving into an area, they should first and foremost demand from the developer the full design of the estate so that they can establish the open spaces and common areas.
“After identifying these spaces, residents should take charge, and if necessary, fence off the space to ward off trespassers,” Ochieng advises.
DN2 sought comments from Nairobi County supremos on a number of issues without success.
For instance, we wanted to know what the county is doing to reclaim grabbed playgrounds and the progress of an earlier directive by the county boss to have all illegal dumpsites rehabilitated and converted to children's playgrounds.
With reports indicating a rising obesity burden among young people, we also wanted to know whether Nairobi County Urban Planning department understands the importance of playgrounds in urban community set ups.
Article Link: NATION
Invitation to the 3rd Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards Gala Dinner
The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat) and State Department for Housing & Urban Development has organized the 3rd Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards (ARAEA) to reward Resident Associations that have demonstrated exemplary performance in promoting sustainable development and access to better public services in Kenya.
The awards address the twin issue of celebrating the work of Resident Associations in Kenya and rewarding those that have done exceptionally well in influencing provision of better services as well as championing the interests of their members. The theme for this year’s award is Building Sustainable and Inclusive Cities and Communities in Kenya through Resident Associations.
We invite to a colourful gala dinner event to award the 3rd Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards winners/runners up. The details of the event are as follows:
Date : Wednesday, 18th December, 2019
Time : 6pm – 9pm
Chief Guest : Prof. Margaret Kobia, The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender
Venue : Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi
Entry : Members – 3,500; Non Members – 5,000
Corporate Table of 10 pax are available at Kshs.35,000 for members and Kshs.50,000 for non members
We request that you confirm your attendance by filling the form(Download form Here) and sending back to us via email or hardcopy. As always, we look forward to hosting you and celebrating together the great work of Resident Associations towards sustainable development.
Regards,
Henry Ochieng | Chief Executive Officer
The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) – Together, We Will.
Isiara Place, Kingara Close, off Kingara Road, House No.10 | P.O Box 1411-00100 GPO, Nairobi.
Tel. 254-20-3874331 | Cellphones: 0725983445; 0733779585; 0773049098
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Website: www.kara.or.ke
Facebook: "The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations" | Twitter: "@Kara_Kenya1"
............................................................................................................................................................
After 19 years of our ongoing promotion of access to enhanced public service delivery, we are keen to work with Kenya's 47 Counties to promote effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability in service delivery as well as involvement of local residents in decision making processes.
Summit: Kara kicks off preparations for the Inaugural Annual Resident Associations Summit
Kara has partnered with United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat), State Department for Housing & Urban Development,
Awards: The Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards: Call for entries
Kara has organized the 3rd Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards (AREA)
Kara opposes plans to increase taxes by Nairobi City County Government
Kara presented a memorandum to the Nairobi City County Assembly’s Finance, Budget and Appropriations committee opposing some amendments in the Finance Bill that will lead to increment of taxes, fees and charges to the already overburdened tax payers.
Public Participation: Kisii residents urged to embrace public participation to promote good governance
Residents of Kisii County have been urged to embrace public participation to enhance accountability and transparency in the County governance.
Planning: Majority of buildings in Nairobi County risk being demolished for flouting zoning policy
More than 70 percent of residential buildings in Nairobi County are not compliant with the county government’s zoning policy.
How Nairobi estate eliminated runaway insecurity
Nation: If you do not feel safe, no matter where you live, you will not be a happy tenant.
Kara survey reveals service delivery priorities for major Counties
A survey commissioned by Kara and carried out by Ipsos reveals that majority of residents in the big five Counties (Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu)
Resident Associations in Kiambu demand for implementation of Resident Associations Engagement Act
Resident Associations in Kiambu County have urged the County Government to implement the Kiambu County Community and Neighborhood Associations
Kara to work with the Law Society of Kenya to promote Alternative Disputes Resolution
Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Kara and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in May 2019,
Citizens’ Forum launched in Nakuru County to enhance engagement between residents and the Nakuru Municipal Board
The Urban Areas and Cities Act (2011) section 22 schedule 2 provides for the establishment of the urban boards to facilitate the management of the urban areas.
Public Participation: Embu residents call for effective public participation and accountability to enhance service delivery
Embu County residents have faulted the County government for not engaging them effectively in the governance of the County.
Constitution Review: Effective public participation key in the proposed review of Kenya’s Constitution
There was general consensus at the 74th edition of the Kara Bimonthly Talk Series forum held on 30th July 2019,
New Bill proposes share of common property areas between proprietors and occupants
Kenyans who purchase units or sections within a building will soon be able to get proportionate share of the common area of the property.
Private Security Regulatory Authority urged to enhance accountability and professionalism in the private security sector
Resident Associations have challenged the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) to focus on enhancing accountability and professionalism in the private security sector.
Global transport summit roots for more investment in Non Motorized Transport
Urban transport and development practitioners as well as researchers converged in Fortaleza, Brazil for the MOBILIZE Fortaleza Summit on 24th to 26th June 2019 to celebrate best practices and share ideas on how to accelerate implementation of sustainable transport initiatives in various cities.
Kara partners with Kenya Power to enhance engagement with Resident Associations and improving customer experience on service delivery
Kara has partnered with Kenya Power to strengthen engagement between the company and Resident Associations on service delivery and improve customer experience and satisfaction.
KARA STATEMENT ON THE COUNTIES SERVICE DELIVERY SURVEY
On March 27, 2013, 47 elected county governors were sworn in, officially signifying Kenya’s adoption of a devolved system of government.
Kara roots for harmonization of National and County Solid Waste Management Policies and Bills
Kara organized a retreat with the team from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoE&F)
