The Rise and Fall of Lokichogio Town

Urbanization in Kenya has faced numerous challenges. Especially, a decline in humanitarian operations in towns located at the borders. This article examines Lokichoggio town’s urban growth and challenges that eventually led to the fall of the town. The article argues that Lokichoggio town began to experience growth due to numerous non-governmental organizations set up in the town. This was done particularly to assist victims of the Sudan civil war. Lokichoggio was later abandoned due to inactive airports, poor urban planning, insecurity and competition from Kakuma and Lodwar towns that now offer affordable accommodation and conference services. The collapse of the luxury hotels, as well as the abandoned compounds of the International Committee of the Red Cross amongst other non-governmental organizations that are struggling to stay afloat greatly affected the economic growth of the town, since a lot of economic activities were pegged on the existence of humanitarian organizations. The article also highlights other urban challenges facing Lokichoggio and finally proposes developments meant to ensure the sustainable development of the town. Current developments being witnessed in the town critique modernization theory which posits that modernization is a unilinear process. The urbanization process of Lokichoggio has not been a unilinear process