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Prof. Sammy C. Letema

Associate Professor, Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning

Home School of Engineering & Architecture Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning Prof. Sammy C. Letema

Prof. Sammy C. Letema

Associate Professor, Department of Spatial and Environmental Planning

Research Interests

Environmental Planning
Infrastructure Delivery
Sanitation
Waste
Land Use

Academic Qualifications

2007-2012: PhD, Wageningen University, The Netherlands : Thesis Title: Assessing Sanitary Mixtures in East African Cities
2000-2002: Master of Environmental Planning and Management, Kenyatta University: Project Title: Peri-Urban Service Provision Planning: Challenges and Prospects in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya
2001: Certificate in Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Environmental Services, Yale University
1993-1997: B. Environmental Studies (Planning and Management), Kenyatta University

Refereed Journal Articles

  1. Mugah and Letema (2025). Sustainability assessment of residential neighbourhoods with varying densities in Nairobi, Kenya. Discover Cities (2025) 2:63,https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00101-2
  2. Mugah F, Wangai P and Letema S (2025). Exploring the accessibility of amenities across three distinct residential neighbourhoods: a case study of Nairobi city, Kenya. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning, https://doi.org/10.1680/jurdp.24.00067
  3. Dorcas Wambui Kariuki, Godwin Opinde & Sammy Letema (06 Jul 2025): Patterns of perception of ecosystem services associated with trees outside forests along an urban-rural gradient. A case of Murang’a municipality, Kenya, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, DOI: 10.1080/14728028.2025.2530023
  4. Dorcas Wambui Kariuki, Godwin O. Opinde & Sammy Letema (24 Mar 2025): Exploring the diversity and distribution of trees outside forests along the urban-rural gradient of Murang’a municipality, Kenya, Arboricultural Journal, DOI: 10.1080/03071375.2025.2477955
  5. Gertrude Akello, Godwin Opinde, and Sammy Letema (2025). Valuation of regulating ecosystem services in Africa: a review of policy impact reporting. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2025, 21(2), 279–290. https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjae032
  6. Stephen Balaka Opiyo, Godwin Opinde & Sammy Letema (2023): A perspective of sustainable livelihood framework in analysis of sustainability of rural community livelihoods: evidence from Migori River watershed in Kenya, International Journal of River Basin Management, DOI: 10.1080/15715124.2023.2216019
  7. Ahogle Arcadius Martinien Agassin, Letema Sammy, Schaab Gertrud, Ngure Veronica, Mwesigye Abraham R., Korir Nicholas K. (2023). Heavy metals and trace elements contamination risks in peri-urban agricultural soils in Nairobi city catchment, Kenya. Frontiers in Soil Science, Volume 2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2022.1048057
  8. Blandine Akimana & Sammy Letema (2022). Assessment of Quality of Household Solid Waste Collection by Private Service Providers in Bujumbura City . Ghana Journal of Geography, Volume 14 Issue 1.
  9. H Kinuthia, C Majale & S Letema (2021). Influence of public policy planning on peri-urban land speculation in (Greater) Eastern Bypass in Nairobi Metropolitan . Land Use Policy Vol. 107, 105515.

Books

Letema, S. (2012). Assessing Sanitary Mixtures in East African Cities. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands. ISBN: 978-90-8686-215-3.

Book Chapters

  1. Letema S. and van Vliet B. (2014). Converging Scales of Urban Sanitation Infrastructure and Management. In Urban Waste and Sanitation Services for Sustainable Development: Harnessing Social and Technical Diversity in East Africa . van Vliet B. van Buuren J. and Mgana S. New York, Routledge: 129-141.
  2. Letema S., van Vliet B. and van Lier J.B. (2010). Reconsidering Urban Sewers and Treatment Works in East Africa as Interplay of Flows, Networks and Spaces. In Social Perspective on the Sanitation Challenge. van Vliet, G. Spaargaren & P. Oosteveer (ed). Dordrecht, Springer: 145-162.
  3. Mireri, C. & Letema, S. (2010). Review of Environmental Governance in Kenya: Analysis of Environmental Policy and Institutional Frameworks. In Handbook of Environmental Policy. Meijer, S. and A. der Ber (ed).
  4. Mireri C., Letema S. and Majele C. (2007). Water and Sanitation Services Delivery in Kenya. In Environment and Sustainable Development: A Guide for Tertiary Education in Kenya, Volume 2, School of Environmental Studies and Human Science, Kenyatta University, Nairobi.
  5. Letema, S. and P.K. Koskey (2004). The Status, Constraints and Environmental Health Implications of Service Provision and Management in Informal Settlements of Eldoret Municipality, Kenya. In Status of Environmental Health Education in the Eastern Africa Region: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward. Joypet Services and Printers, Nairobi.
  6. Koskey, P.K. and Letema, S. (2004). Environmental Health Education in Urban Environmental Planning and Management: The Basis, Relevance and Reflected Practice. In Status of Environmental Health Education in the Eastern Africa Region: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward. Joypet Services and Printers, Nairobi.

Conference Papers

  1. Njiru C.W., Letema S.C ., Maingi S.M., Gichohi P.M. (2014). Renewable energy policies and practices in Kenya and their contribution to appropriate technology adoption, A Conference Paper presented in the 6th International Conference on “Appropriate Technology for the 21st Century: Technological Innovation to empower Africa” hosted at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, November 25th-29th, 2014.
  2. Letema S. van Vliet B., van Buuren, J. and van Lier, J.B (2009). Small-Scale Satellite Systems as Alternative Sewerage Provisioning in Kampala City, Uganda. Decentralised Sanitation Conference, Kathmandu, Nepal, 11-13 November, 2009.
  3. Letema S. van Vliet B. and van Lier J.B. (2010). Reconsidering urban sewer and treatment facilities East Africa as Interplay of material flows, sanitary networks and space demands. Sanitation Challenge: New Sanitation Concepts and Models of Governance IWA Conference, Wageningen, May 19-21, 2008.
  4. 2015 attended Planning Workshop on Planning under Devolved Governance in Kenya held in Kisumu Imperial Hotel. Event was organised by Kenya Institute of Planners.
  5. 29 th April 2014. Attended National Conference on upscaling metropolitan development whose theme was ‘ Kenya on the path to metropolisation’ at Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya.
  6. Attended partly the 6 th International Conference on “Appropriate Technology for the 21 st Century: Technological Innovation to empower Africa” hosted at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, November 25 th -29 th , 2014.
  7. 18 th to 19 th September, 2014. Workshop on PRIVIDE for Impact Launch of Urban Waste and Sanitation Network at Impala Arusha, Tanzania.

Professional Affiliations

  • Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP): Corporate Member (MKIP)
  • Environmental Institute of Kenya: EIA Lead Expert
  • Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP): Corporate Member (MKIP) No. 193
  • Environment Institute of Kenya: Member No. 1,000,891
  • National Environment Management Authority Lead Expert No. 401