Prof. Lawrence Esho

Prof. Lawrence Esho is a Sociologist/Spatial Planner with a long career straddling 25years as a built environment professional. His earlier years were spent in the public service as a Spatial Planner with the government of Kenya. He is currently Professor of planning at the Technical University of Kenya, where he is heading the Department of Spatial Planning and Design. His research interests are in the area of urbanization and informality, where he has critically explored the link between informality, urban space and urban planning. His PhD research was on “The Role of Informality in Reconstituting Urban Spaces”. He is also contributing author to the book "Urban Trialogues - Visions, Actions and Co-productions", as well as “Situated Practices of Strategic Planning: An international perspective”, Towards a Just City in Kenya, amongst other publications.

Prof. Esho combines his academic activities with professional pursuits, building a career as a professional planning practitioner. He is a Registered and Licenced Physical Planner. He has served as partner and principal consultant in a number of Kenya’s leading planning firms. He has handled major planning commissions linked with Kenya Municipal Programme, Kenya Informal Settlement Project, and has prepared Spatial Plans for key Urban areas and Counties. He is also a project evaluator for major projects national and international programmes, including some for the UNDP and UN-Habitat. He has served in a number of government-appointed taskforces, notably the Taskforce on Keep Our Markets Open, and the Taskforce on Extension and/or Renewal of Leases. Prof. Esho works closely with the Council of Governors.

Prof Esho is also active in developing the planning profession in Kenya and Africa as a whole, having served as the President of the Kenya institute of Planners and Regional (EA) Vice-President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners, steering committee member of the Association of African Planning Schools, vice President for the Network of African Schools of Architecture and Planning in Africa. He has previously served as the National Vice-President of the Environment and Land Court – Court Users Committee.