By Paul Kamal Ogudah
Guerilla urbanism denotes unsanctioned urban planning and design interventions that are done by individuals in a particular urban space, as a result there is always conflict between the actors and or implementers and the respective local government under whose jurisdiction that space lies.
Oile market to me was the most successful Guerilla urbanism coup that has ever happened in Kisumu City. But was it really worth it? Should the market be reclaimed back to a public park that it was supposed to be or should it be developed fully into a market?
Well, many of us are familiar with Oile as a market than a public park but years ago it was a beautiful park with trees and extensive shades where people would lay down to relax safely from the unforgiving solar radiation of Kisumu. But slowly sellers started to encroach into it, at some point It was sealed off by the council, a number of running battles pitting the traders and the council simmered, in the end the traders won and had their way. Oile Park gave way to Oile market.
But in as much as it provided many people with a form of livelihood, I feel Oile is much better an asset to Kisumu City as a park than a market. Kisumu City needs to have more green spaces in the city like many in Africa growing at over 5% or more per annum, open spaces will be among the much desired assets in the future. The market can be taken to another place far from the town center.
Other parks as Victoria Park, Taifa Park and even the famous Jomo Kenyatta Sportsground should be renovated to have public facilities and utilities that can be used to the enjoyment by the local city residents. It is by virtue one of the free benefits and gifts the local community got to enjoy from the few freebies available within the city space.
Being an ardent supporter of Tactical Urbanism it is hard to write against such a great coup especially when tactical urbanism matters are concerned. But Oile should be given back to the citizens of Kisumu to be enjoyed as a public space/park, as a market it is all what Tactical Urbanism is not. The main beneficiaries were the traders. Many would argue how it is better as a market as it generates income and aides in the growth of GDP; but let us face it, there are other alternatives for market space and the benefit Oile can have on various citizens and residents of Kisumu as a public park cannot be measured with any amount of money.
You can tell a lot about a city from among others - its public transport, people, culture and cuisine and finally how they take care and use their open spaces. Open spaces be it public or private, a greenery park or plaza tend to add to the allure and the beauty of a city especially when you are to start talking about how people-friendly a city is. Think of Red Square in Moscow, Central Park in New York, St Peter’s Square in Rome. Kisumu as many other emerging African cities need to start putting development and maintenance of open spaces and plazas top in their urban planning and design agenda.
This was first published at:
http://tomorrowspaper.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/guerilla-urbanism-in-kisumu-oile-market/
Guerilla Urbanism that is Oile Market