Tracing Kisumu’s path in the co-production of knowledge for urban development

Abstract

This chapter traces the history of Kisumu from 1900 to the present to demonstrate the various levels of knowledge co-production over the years and how these have shaped the development of the city. Kisumu is said to have been a versatile commercial center before the advent of colonialism in the late nineteenth century. The late 1990s saw the emergence of a strengthened civil society sector in Kenya through the emergence of civil society organizations (CSOs), which had ramifications in Kisumu. Co-production of knowledge for sustainable urban development is a nonlinear, collaborative process. In Kisumu the process started with peaceful coexistence and minimal conflict between various players in the city. The Kisumu Local Interaction Platform (KLIP) was established through the work with Mistra Urban Futures. Nevertheless Kisumu Action Team (KAT) led to an increase in citizen involvement in the planning of the city.