INVESTIGATION OF URBAN:

ENVIRONMENTS & LAND USE

PATTERNS.
ELDORET TOWN AND ENVIRONS.
GEOGRAPHY REPORT CAT II.

24.06.2022
Name: Mike A Churchill.

Sites visited: Baharini, Maili nne, Huruma, Mwanzo, Eldoret CBD, Kapsoya, Elgon View.
Site 1: Baharini.
➔ It is mostly a residential area with no industries present and very few service
provision facilities like car washing.
➔ The area has a generally low Building height average with most buildings being
non-storey buildings.
➔ The buildings have an average of about 15 years service, the majority being recently
established.
➔ House occupancy and density is generally low.
➔ It is an area with a low crime rate.
➔ It is a growing centre with market day being on Wednesdays.
➔ It has low traffic congestion due to the low population.
➔ Water quality is generally low for there is very inconsistent tap water and they have
to fetch water from wells.
➔ Pollution levels are quite low with the only dominant pollution being from the
washed oil tank trucks which is minimal.
➔ The housing quality is quite low but improving as people continue to move towards
that area. The maintenance of the infrastructure is low with only the main highway
being maintained.
➔ There are no abandoned houses present.
➔ The health centres are at a distance of about 15km away which is quite a long
journey considering the road is not tarmaced.
Interview
“The schools are not so far.Most of them are public schools where very little money
is paid so most children go to school. The virus outbreak and recent inflation affect
business significantly, the profits now are very low and the cost of living is very high.
The land values here are affordable but rising at a reasonable pace.” William said..
 Conclusion: Baharini is dominated by informal sector employment. This is supported by
the lack of industries in the area. This suggests it’s a low income residential area.
Baharini is experiencing Rural-Urban fringe which means its land use is mostly for
residency and idle land. It acts as a boundary between the town and the countryside. This
is suggested by: 1. Decrease in land value 2.Deacrease in height of buildings 3.Pollution
decrease.The land use in this area is 95%+ for residential use and idle land.

Site 2: Maili nne.

➔ There is generally low pollution although in some places as there are diapers thrown
on small fields, there is rubbish collection by the county council but it isn't very
effective.
➔ The area does not experience high levels of noise pollution.
➔ The buildings are aged but not a lot having an average of about 20 years old.
➔ It is dominated by small scale businesses most of them being food venders.
➔ The crime rate is quite low because there are police patrols in the area.
➔ The building height is medium with the tallest being about 4 storeys high.
➔ The water and electricity supply is constant and of great quality.
➔ There are health facilities which provide service 24/7 from Sunday to Saturday.
➔ The land value is quite high with the cheapest piece of land [a plot] going for about 2
million Ksh and above depending on its location.
➔ There is high house density and occupancy.
Interview:
“We have constant supply of water and electricity.The health facilities are open 24/7 which
are clinics and Huruma dispensary which are only 20 minutes away from my place.The
businesses are very competitive and we enjoy the profits especially when it comes to food.
It is a generally peaceful place, I enjoy living here.” Mr. Brain said.
 Maili nne residents in the market.

Conclusion: Maili nne is an outer ring zone although with people with middle incomes. It is also
largely a residential area. This is suggested by: 1. Land values of about 2 million per plot. 2. Low
levels of pollution. 3.Medium levels of residency . 4. Lack of abandoned houses. 5. The buildings
are about 3 to four storeys. The land use in this area is largely for residential purposes but also
for non-residential purposes but minimally.

Site 3: Huruma.
➔ There is inconsistency in water provision.
➔ There are a number of health facilities but open only during the day except Huruma
Dispensary.
➔ The land values are generally high ranging from 2.5 million or 3 million per plot of
land.
➔ There are high levels of sound,water,land and air pollution of which the county
government tries to maintain.
➔ There is high house occupancy which symbolises the high population in the area.
➔ There is high house density.
➔ There are some abandoned houses present in the varsity.
 ➔ The crime rate is generally low but there are some redspot areas where there are
very high crime rates.
➔ The buildings are quite congested with a decent average height of about 4 to 5
storey buildings. The buildings are also quite old with an average age of about 15 to
20 years.
➔ Most residents are low to middle income earners with most houses being rental
houses.
➔ The area also has an industry nearby with many other businesses around which
suggest it is a productive zone and many people in the area have a source of income
although not a lot.

Interview:
“ I find this area habitable for its proximity to the CBD. It is also near the industrial area
which makes transport to and from work cheaper. I sometimes walk to work and back
and save some cash for something else. I enjoy living here.” Mrs Nancy said.

Industry near Huruma.

Conclusion: Huruma is a middle to low income residential area. It is an industrial and

residential zone. It is an inner city ring zone. This is suggested by: 1.The old buildings 2. The
high height of the buildings 3.The high land values of about 2.5 million per plot 4.Heigher levels
of pollution. The land use in this area is partially for residential purposes and non-residential
purposes.
Site 3: Mwanzo.
➔ The buildings are quite congested.
➔ The area is highly polluted.
➔ The matatus are in a congested terminal and there are small shanty houses
congested all together.
➔ There are schools nearby.
➔ There are some abandoned buildings in the area.
➔ The roads are not well maintained for they are worn out with pot holes all over.
➔ There are new constructions taking place in the area and there are very many storey
apartment buildings that are almost fully occupied meaning there is a high house
occupancy.
➔ There is also a high house density for there is a very large population living in that
area.
➔ The water in the area is rationed and only comes twice a week.
➔ The crime rate is quite high with only places near the shopping centre being safe.
➔ The buildings are very old; about 30 years old.
➔ Food venders are the most profitable businesses around.
➔ There is rubbish collection but at the cost of the residents which leads to high
pollution since most residents are low to middle income people.

Interview:
“ Although I don’t really enjoy staying here, this is the place that my income allows me to stay. It
is not a safe environment, especially for children.” Johnny said.

Mwanzo new rental apartments.

Conclusion: Mwanzo is a low to middle income area that has been affected by pollution. It is
located in the inner city ring zone with some of the area being for industries like Raiply and
some for residential homes. Most houses are apartments with little space and no space for
gardens. It has a mix of old and new buildings but most are old and tall buildings. The land use
here is partly for residential and partly for non residential purposes.

Site 5: Eldoret CBD.

➔ It is dominated by high storey buildings that cause visual pollution with the
tallest being a 24 storey building named “Daima Towers”.
➔ It is filled with service industry facilities such as banks, hotels, hospitals,
clinics.
➔ The area has very little vegetation cover.
➔ The CBD has gigantic malls such as the Zion Mall.
➔ There are very few residential apartments.
➔ There is high noise pollution from the passing traffic.
➔ Traffic congestion is rampant and the buildings are also congested together.
➔ The infrastructure is well maintained as required by the county government.
➔ There is very high security with the police station being in the middle of the
CBD.
➔ Traffic jams are a common occasion here.
➔ There is no purchasable land and if there was the price would be too high to
afford. It is estimated to be 30 million Ksh per plot.
➔ It is not a residential area because very few people live in the CBD.
➔ The buildings are very old, some being more than 70 years old.
➔ It is the oldest part in Eldoret.
● Unfortunately an interview was not possible in this area due to the congestion on
busy streets.
 View of Eldoret CBD from KVDA plaza.

Conclusion: Eldoret CBD is the core zone. This is highly suggested by the high rise old buildings
in the area with very few to no residential apartments. The land use in this area is 90%+ for
non-residential purposes.
Site 6: Kapsoya.
➔ Water is rationed by available on a daily basis just not every moment.
➔ The electricity is unstable but reliable.
➔ There is a health facility nearby; Kapsoya Hospital.
➔ There is a little crime but only in the outskirts of the centre.
➔ Only 60% of the houses are occupied after the COVID 19 virus although people have
started moving back in.
➔ There is rubbish collection in the area.
➔ Most buildings are aged.
➔ The environment is quite polluted with low infrastructure management except for
roads.
➔ It is a very busy economic centre.
➔ The building height is medium at about 2 storeys on average.
➔ The house density and occupancy is average.
➔ There is some vegetation cover.
➔ Price of land is quite high.
➔ No traffic jam is experienced apart from when entering the CBD

Kapsoya, a middle income area.

Conclusion: Kapsoya is a middle income residential area with little to no industries in the area.
It is an area between the suburban ring zone and the inner city ring zone. The land use in this
area is mostly for residential purposes.
Site 7: Elgon View.
➔ It has very low pollution levels; almost none.
➔ The house density is generally low with most people having 2 to 3 children in 4
bedroomed houses.
➔ It has a blend of nature and infrastructure. It has a very conducive environment.
➔ The infrastructure is well maintained with houses and roads having a modern touch.
➔ The security is very high since most security agencies have their offices in the region
and people have installed electric fences which discourage thugs.
➔ There are no abandoned houses present.
➔ The prices start at about 10 million which is the cheapest price and for a very small
piece of land; The land value is very high.
➔ The height of buildings is quite low with the highest being only 2 storeys high.
➔ No traffic jams are experienced in the area.

Residential house in Elgonview.

Conclusion: Elgon View is a high income residential area. The houses are spacious with front
and back gardens. It is a suburban ring zone. The land use in this area is typically for residential
purposes only.