Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- conundrum / kəˈnʌn drəm / (n.) – a difficult problem or question that is hard to solve
Example:Lisa faced a conundrum when trying to decide between two job offers.
- roll back (something) / roʊl bæk / (phrasal v.) – to reduce or take something back to a previous level or position
Example:The new environmental policy has rolled back the effects of pollution in the city.
- compelling / kəmˈpɛl ɪŋ / (adj.) – describing something that is very interesting or strong, making people want to pay attention or believe it
Example:Carl’s ideas were so compelling that everyone in the meeting agreed to follow his plan.
- fiscally / ˈfɪs kə li / (adv.) – in a way that is related to money or the economy, especially money that a government, business, or organization manages
Example:The city government has been fiscally careful in planning the budget to avoid debt.
- constrained / kənˈstreɪnd / (adj.) – not free to do something
Example:The team’s creativity was constrained by the tight deadline, leaving little time for new ideas.
Article
Read the text below.
A privately owned development outside the Kenyan capital is attracting residents and businesses with its strict rules and modern infrastructure.
Turn into Tatu City on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, and it feels like entering a different world.
Digital content creator Valerie Akoko moved here two years ago. “I have never seen Tatu City dirty,” she says. “The rules state that the estate should be cleaned as regularly as possible. I have been here two years, there has never been an accident in Tatu City…because there are rules.”
Situated on 5,000 acres, Tatu City aspires to be what its name suggests: a city, privately owned, that its designers hope will eventually have a population of 250,000. It already is home to 88 businesses that employ 15,000 people.
In sub-Saharan Africa, champions of the idea hope that new-city developments can address the continent’s urbanization conundrum: While the growth of cities has rolled back poverty elsewhere, this region has largely been an exception.
History suggests that as people move into cities, productivity increases, wages rise, exports grow, and a country gets richer. But in Africa, urbanization has not unleashed such economic transformation. Weak property rights and political tensions can make the problem worse.
Still, the case for building new cities, complete with new infrastructure, seems compelling. The Charter Cities Institute, a Washington-based non-profit, argues that, done properly, such projects could drive growth, create jobs, and “lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.” The institute sees Tatu City as a model.
Tatu may provide clues as to what makes a new city successful.
Experts agree that the private sector must play a role in African urbanization, saying African states are too fiscally constrained to fill the investment gap themselves.
Tatu City also appeals to businesses and residents with its transparent governance structure and services that are often lacking elsewhere in Kenya, including its own water supply and energy grid.
It falls under national law but can set its own rules on matters like traffic and, crucially, what kind of houses can be built, with all plans requiring approval from Tatu’s management.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Tatu City is praised for its cleanliness, safety, and strict rules. Would you prefer to live in a place with strict rules if it meant a cleaner and safer environment? Why or why not? In your opinion, what are some rules that a city should be strict about? Discuss.
- Do rules alone create successful communities, or does their implementation matter more? Why do you say so? Do you think a city can also be successful even without strict rules like in Tatu? Why or why not? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Tatu City is privately owned and has its own governance. Do you think private ownership of cities is a good idea? Why or why not? If you could own and design a city, what would it look like? What services, features, or rules would you include to make it ideal for residents? Discuss.
- Tatu City also appeals to residents because of its transparent governance. How do you think a lack of transparency can harm a city or its residents? What steps do you think cities can take to ensure their governance remains transparent (ex. publish monthly reports, have a good relationship with the press)? Discuss.
