Balancing Progress And Privacy: Ethical Consideration For Data-driven Urban Planning In Nairobi- Learning From Singapore's Onemap Case Study

Rapid urbanization in Nairobi necessitates a data-driven approach to sustainable urban planning. The proposed Nairobi Urban Resource and Information System (URIS) offers a central repository for comprehensive urban data, encompassing land use, demographics, and environmental information. However, ethical considerations regarding data privacy must be addressed. This paper explores the potential of URIS while critically examining these concerns, including privacy intrusion, data equity, security risks, and transparency. We leverage the case study of Singapore's OneMap to glean best practices and identify potential pitfalls for URIS development. Recommendations are provided to ensure URIS adheres to ethical data practices, fostering a more inclusive and privacy-conscious approach to urban planning in Nairobi. These include robust legal frameworks, international collaboration on data governance, anonymization techniques, and resident empowerment through digital literacy programs. By prioritizing transparency, informed consent, and community engagement, URIS can be designed as a powerful tool for sustainable urban development while safeguarding resident privacy and building public trust. This approach positions Nairobi as a leader in ethical data-driven urban planning in Africa.