National Spatial Plan 2015-2045.

The Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning is charged with the responsibility of formulating general principles of land planning. In this respect, the Department of Physical Planning of the Ministry has prepared the National Spatial Plan (NSP) which sets out policies and strategies to guide the spatial development of the country. The National Spatial Plan details out the national vision that will guide the long term spatial development of the country for a period of 30 years. It covers the entire territory of Kenya and defines the general trend and direction of spatial development for the country. It aims at achieving an organized, integrated, sustainable and balanced development of the country by providing a framework for better national organization and linkages between different activities within the national space.
As mentioned, the Plan is a strategic vision that defines the general trend and direction of spatial development for the country, covering the entire forty seven counties and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Its specific objectives are: a) to create a spatial planning context that enhances economic efficiency and strengthens Kenya’s global competitiveness; b) to promote balanced regional development for national integration and cohesion; c) to optimize utilization of land and natural resources for economic development; d) to create livable and functional human settlements for high quality of life in both urban and rural areas; e) to secure the natural environment for sustainable development; and f) to establish an integrated national transportation network and infrastructure system.
The NSP seeks to make agriculture more sustainable, and to optimize the use of mand and natural resources. The strategy allocates land to different activities rationally by putting into consideration the land capabilities and potentials and by addressing concerns arising from the need to protect and conserve the environment.
Further the strategy apportions land to various land-based needs including: protecting prime agricultural land, prioritizing grain basket and export crop production areas, tapping the capabilities and potentials of the ASALs, accommodating urban growth and providing a strategy for provision of adequate land for future development of infrastructure and utilities. The assessment undertaken includes: i) Land Capability ; ii) Agriculture Capability; iii) Environmental Conservation and Protection Areas; iv) Natural Resource Potential; v) Industrial Potential; vi) Tourism potential; vii) Transport and Public Utilities; viii) Impacts of Human Settlements; ix) Land requirement.
Chapter 5 of the Plan proposes an implementation framework which establishes institutions necessary for its realization, identifies activities to be undertaken together with the respective actors and spells out the timelines. Some of the broad action areas include the preparation of regional, county and local spatial plans to integrate and conform to the proposals of the NSP, assimilation of the proposed policies to the sector plans and programmes, formulation of regulations and standards to guide development and incorporation into the five year Medium Term Plan (MTPs).