PROFESSOR ISAAC KARANJA MWANGI is an Associate Professor of Planning and the Chair, Interim Committee of the Centre for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa (CURLA), University of Nairobi. He is widely published in theory, methodology, and practice of planning. Levels of Organization and Tracks of Planning Methodology (2007)”, “Proposing a Conceptual Model of Planning Methodology in Public Domain” (2020), and “Value Chain Framework for Ascertaining Planning Sectors and Competencies” (2021), jointly with Dr Silas M. Muketha are among his key scholarly articles.
Especially, “Proposing a Conceptual Model of Planning Methodology in Public Domain” has clarified age-old semantic scholarly concerns about knowledge as well as methodological application of each of the seven terms planners use in preparing public plans, namely: (1) “town”, (2) “physical”, (3) “land use”, (4) “strategic”, (5) “integrated”, (6) “sectoral”, and (7) “spatial”. Concepts of step and phase that planners invoke globally in public planning are also clarified. This has further deepened appreciation of the practical relevance of the two concepts as anchors of knowledge and tact of methodological logistics in “weaving” and the artistic “crafting” that planners undertake to formulate any one public plan that is objectivized in either of the seven terms.
His forthcoming book “Nature and Scope of Planning Methodology: How it is Supposed to Work in Devolved System of Counties – Kenya” has succinctly provided, not only the key concepts and principles underlining the theory and philosophy of the methodology; but also the design of planning organization, legal and governance practices to ameliorate existing ones that have stunted effective territorial planning and implementation in the counties.
Prof Mwangi is a registered planner as well as founder, fellow, and former Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Kenya Institute of Planners. He formulated the curriculum of the first undergraduate planning degree programme of the University of Nairobi. His more than ten years’ experience as a researcher, technical support, and advisory services expert in planning, which he acquired at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Kenya) and Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) Africa Office, has stood him in good stead in the planning and development field. He managed the delivery of a seven modular curriculum for the annual Africa Training Course (ATC) for Local and Regional Development Planning and Management that trained 320 mid-level career planners and development managers working in the national, regional, and municipal governments in Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
He also was the planning expert for the District and Regional Development Planning and Management programme in Oromia Region in the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, District and Regional Development Planning and Management Programme in Botswana, Regional Development Plan for Hard Region, Namibia, and Regional Development Policy and Practice programme in Khomas, Oshana, Karas and Erongo Regions also in the Republic of Namibia. As Urbanization Sector Team Leader, he successfully completed a research project on “Skills Audit in Urbanization Sector in Rwanda 2017” for the Capacity Development and Employment Service Board (CESB) of the Government of the Republic of Rwanda.
His notable planning professional works as a registered planner in Kenya include Nakuru Strategic Structure Plan” (NSSP), Nyandarua District Integrated Regional Development Plan, Ewaso Ngiro North Integrated Regional Development Plan, and Mombasa Mainland South and Kwale District Regional Physical Development Plan. The Government of Republic of Kenya approved these plans under the Physical Planning Act, 1996. He was Lead Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) expert for China Wu Yi (K) Limited’s iconic Lobelia Court twin-block apartment along George Padmore Road that currently defines the skyline of Kilimani neighbourhood in Nairobi City region.
Prof. Mwangi recently, 2021 and 2022, Co-Team led, jointly with Dr Remy Sietchiping (UN-HABITAT), the “Covid-19 Impacts on Transportation of Food and other Commodities in Urban-Rural Nexus (COVID-19 ITFCURN) project” that covered Cameroon, Kenya, Niger State (Nigeria), Senegal and Zimbabwe. The establishment of the Centre for Urban–Rural Linkages in Africa (CURLA) is an outcome of the project.
Prof. Mwangi earned his B.Sc. (Hons) and M.A. (Planning) from the University of Nairobi. He was CIDA scholar at the School of Planning, University of Waterloo, Ontario Canada where he earned his PhD (Planning) degree. The 2019 publication commemorating 50 years since the Faculty of Environment was established at Waterloo identified Prof Mwangi as among the leaders who graduated from the faculty. Before joining academia, Prof Mwangi worked in Kenya’s civil service as Assistant Planner in the old greater Meru District that was later divided in 2010 to form Meru and Tharaka Nithi Counties.