Urbanisation, Informality and Housing Challenge in Nairobi: A Case of Urban Governance Failure?

Abstract

This paper examines the past planning approaches employed by the Kenyan state and the Nairobi city planning authorities in housing provision. The central question addressed in the paper is: how did the past planning approaches enhance or limit low-income housing, and how did the adopted urban governance contribute to housing informality in Nairobi? The paper employs extensive literature review of published material and project document analysis, which are augmented by the authors’ rich experience in planning practice in Nairobi. The central argument of the paper is that while there have been enormous efforts in improving the urban housing situation, particularly with regard to the current constitution of 2010 and recently enacted urban areas and cities act of 2011 among others, governance issues have remained on paper awaiting effective translation into the planning practice. Power dynamics and exclusion continue to shape housing provision, a factor that perhaps has precipitated informality not just in Nairobi but across the country. Instead, the paper advocates for a more inclusive urban governance system in housing production, which we argue, can contribute to sustainable low-income housing that will in turn reduce housing informality that robs the urban poor of their rights to adequate housing and service provision.

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