Spatial planning describes how space is created and arranged and provides blueprints to organize development. It’s a method of ensuring an orderly distribution of people and activities in a settlements spatial system. Spatial planning takes place at local, regional, national and trans-national levels and results in creation of a spatial plan.

County spatial plans provides a spatial vision that guides long term spatial development of the counties. The plans provide an important framework for efficient, productive and sustainable use of land as advocated for in both in the Kenyan Constitution and National Land Policy. These plans provide strategies and policies to facilitate sustainable exploitation of potential in the counties and reduce inequality; and a platform for prioritization of programmes and projects with their implementation mechanisms.

In this regard, RCMRD conducted a five-day ‘County Spatial Planning: Formulation, Implementation, Financing, Monitoring and Evaluation of Spatial Development Frameworks’ training in Juja, Kenya from 3 – 7 July 2017. The main objective of the training was providing additional technical information and skills in designing and implementing effective development policies and plans with specific focus on Kenya county spatial plans, among other county and national plans. The training targeted senior county planners and other technical officers involved formulating, implementing and monitoring county spatial plans.