DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO PUBLIC OPEN SPACES FOR CHILDREN IN NAIROBI CITY, KENYA
DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO PUBLIC OPEN SPACES FOR CHILDREN IN NAIROBI CITY, KENYA
Everlyne Amile Okubo
Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Prof. Caleb Mireri
Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Paul Aloyo
Department of Landscape Architecture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Public open spaces are essential for children’s health, learning, and social interaction, yet their provision and quality remain uneven in rapidly urbanising cities. This study examines disparities in the availability, safety, and usability of public open spaces for children in Nairobi, Kenya. The study sampled three Nairobi neighbourhoods to represent different socioeconomic contexts: high-income (Loresho), middle-income (Nairobi West), and low-income (Kibera). A mixed-methods approach included surveys, FGDs, KIIs, field observations, and spatial analysis, engaging 417 respondents (198 children, 61 parents, 158 other open space users). Purposive sampling identified key institutions based on their relevance, including Nairobi City departments (Talents, Skills Development and Care; Green Nairobi; Built Environment and Urban Planning), sports subcounty officers, ward managers and local user groups. Results show that all three areas fall far below the World Health Organization benchmark of 9 m² of open space per capita. Provision is lowest in Kibera and Nairobi West, where population density, poverty, poor infrastructure, and weak enforcement of planning laws limit access. Safety risks include overcrowding, poor lighting, lack of fencing, proximity to traffic, and encroachment of informal activities. Usability is further reduced by poor maintenance, competition from organised groups, and the exclusion of children from available facilities. In Loresho neighbourhood, private amenities compensate for the limited public open spaces but do not eliminate exclusion. These disparities constrain physical activity and social development, particularly for children in the low-income areas, and highlight gaps in urban policy implementation. The paper calls for stronger planning, investment, and management to create equitable, safe, and inclusive open spaces, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11.7 and Kenya’s Vision 2030.
