Imagining urban transformation in Kenya

This paper examines the diverse ways in which science and technology are implicated collective imaginations of urban futures Kenya. Despite calls for a ‘deep reimagining’ African urbanisation (UN Habitat 2014), globalised narratives ‘smartness’ intersecting with pan-African tendencies toward top-down Master Planning to constrain spaces imagining futures. Using conceptual lens sociotechnical imaginaries methodological approach Q method, we hope open up navigate space tension between violence failure crisis cities, sometimes ‘blinding power’ certain hyper-modernist visions We argue that powerful global hegemonic forces around transformation can be most effectively balanced, not by reproducing same assertive idiom stylised monothetic categories set-piece contrasts but illuminating diversity imaginations. Our research describes three distinguishable overlapping Kenya futures, call: ‘Working towards equitable, culturally-vibrant habitats all’; ‘Transforming our cities ourselves become ‘smarter’ thrive sustainability digital future’, ‘Pragmatically harnessing more inclusive, liveable cities’. findings highlight salient dimensions difference including: understandings culture areas; dwellers future; imagined processes change. Through detailed analysis distinctiveness similarities/overlap these imaginaries, draw out implications governance