An Assessment of Cargo Containers Used to Provide Affordable Housing in Kenya: a Case of Embakasi West Constituency, Nairobi County

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to assess the implications of using container houses to provide affordable housing in Embakasi West Constituency, Nairobi County. The study’s specific objectives were to examine the people’s perceptions on cargo container houses on affordable housing (in Embakasi west constituency, Nairobi County), to examine the affordability of container houses (by the residents of Embakasi West Constituency) and to identify challenges of cargo container housing in Embakasi west constituency, Nairobi County. The study adopted a descriptive research design. This study targeted cargo containers house owners in Embakasi West Constituency which consists of 4 wards namely Umoja I, Umoja II, Mowlem and Kariobangi South. Questionnaires were used to collect data and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics for quantitative data and qualitatively using content analysis. A majority of Embakasi West Constituency (50.2%) agreed that there is a housing problem in Kenya which needs an urgent address. About 46.5% of the respondents were of the opinion that those who have low income to live in this houses since they can afford them at lower cost. The study concluded that people living in Embakasi Constituency have a perception that cargo container housing can be used as a home, renting purposes, storage and for transport and consider mostly the value of the container in regard to their needs. The affordability of cargo container housing is positively correlated to the income of the household head. This emanates from the fact the respondents strongly agreed that affordability on cargo housing containers affects affordability of housing to a greater extent and availability of capital influences the affordability of cargo container housing. Cargo container housing is faced with many challenges such as customizing the design to suit owner needs is very expensive, moving the container from one point to another is also expensive and it is subject to weather changes. The challenges of affordability of housing in Embakasi Constituency are as a result of very earning very little and high cost of housing. The study recommends that the financial institutions should take steps to finance people who choose for cargo container housing. The government should encourage alternative building technologies that are cheaper to its people and can be established in urban areas which are densely populated.