UN-Habitat Calls for Planning and Co-Creation to Prepare Nairobi for 20 Million Residents

By Wilson Amondo 

NAIROBI, Kenya – September 8, 2026 — Nairobi must embrace integrated planning, innovation and co-creation to address its growing urban challenges and prepare for a future population of between 10 and 20 million residents, Prof. Vincent Kitio of UN-Habitat has said.

Speaking during the Nairobi Biennale 2026 and ahead of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) Annual Convention 2026, Prof. Kitio said Nairobi’s rapid growth should be viewed not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity to build a more resilient and sustainable city.

The Nairobi Biennale is being held from September 7–11, 2026, at the ASK Showground, Jamhuri Park, under the theme “Shifting the Built Environment: From Fragility to Resilience.” Exhibition entry is free, with registration required.

Prof. Kitio emphasized the need for inclusive urban planning that ensures private developments also generate value for surrounding communities.

“While they are making their own profit, they also create profit for the community,” Prof. Kitio said.

He noted that with proper planning and responsible use of natural resources, Nairobi can accommodate significant population growth without creating unsustainable pressure on the city.

“Indeed it is a challenge today, but if we plan properly it can actually become a huge opportunity that can allow us to build Nairobi and prepare ourselves for the 10 to 15 to 20 million people that Nairobi will become,” he said.

Prof. Kitio cited Bangladesh as an example of how densely populated countries can manage large populations through appropriate planning and resource utilization.

“If God created the number of people that we have and gave us the land that we have, it is because if we use natural resources properly, we can live without any major problem,” he said.

He further highlighted an integrated urban project being advanced by UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Nairobi Rivers Commission, Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), National Government, Nairobi City County Government and UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The initiative brings together specialists in mobility, waste management, energy and urban planning to pilot innovative approaches that can help transform Nairobi’s built environment.

Prof. Kitio pointed to the Machakos Bus Terminal as an example of infrastructure that could be reimagined to respond to changing mobility patterns.

“We are looking at the Machakos Bus Terminal — it has been there for the last 40 years and has remained the same. We are seeing a transition in mobility with more electric boda bodas on the roads compared to three years ago. How can we transform the terminal into something more?” he said.

He said the project is also exploring opportunities in waste management and electric mobility as part of a broader effort to create integrated urban solutions.

On renewable energy, Prof. Kitio said Nairobi has significant untapped potential, particularly through solar power.

“Just imagine putting solar panels on the roof of this huge home, we don't even need to use KPLC, we could just use this solar,” he said.

He stressed that the key to addressing Nairobi’s interconnected urban challenges is bringing different solutions together through effective planning and collaboration.

“If we can combine the possibilities to address our challenges, what brings all this together is planning and co-creation.”

The Nairobi Biennale 2026, organized in partnership with AAK, is showcasing nature-based solutions, practical innovations and policy pathways aimed at building a more resilient and sustainable built environment.

The AAK Annual Convention 2026 will continue from September 14–19, 2026, at Diamond Leisure Lodge, Diani, bringing together professionals and stakeholders to further examine strategies for transforming Africa’s built environment.