Nairobi, Feb. 15 -- Kenya is just 10 months shy of 2025 when half the country's population is expected to reside in urban areas, according to UN-Habitat projections. The reality of this demographic shift presents a myriad of opportunities and complex challenges that demand counties to leverage and manage the process effectively.

The imminent surge in the urban population calls for a robust planning framework to meet the increasing demand for housing, commercial space, and infrastructure, with proper regulations and development control permitting being at the centre of it.

According to the recently released Architectural Association of Kenya's (AAK) Status of the Built Environment Report, residential projects marked the highest percentag...