| dc.description.abstract | Existing evidence shows that Nairobi is
experiencing a serious housing problem. The existing
housing stock is wholly deficient while the existing
conventional housing supply mechanisms, both private
and public, are not able to meet the housing 'demand'
leave alone the 'need'. This situation is worsened
by the rapid urbanization process Kenya is experiencing
accompanied by the accelerated growth of the urban
population through natural increase and the
unprecedented movement of people from the rural areas
to urban centres (Nairobi receives a disproportionate
share of the migrants).
The lower income groups are the worst hit by
the urban housing. With their low levels of income
and the high costs of conventional housing these are
confined to finding affordable accommodation in
informal housing areas which are mainly characterised
by semi-permanent and temporary housing, and lack of
services, utilities and amenities. The persisting
nature of informal housing in the urban areas and the
fact that they house about 40% of the urban population
shows that there is need to recognize the contribution
of such settlements to the expansion of the urban
housing stock especially for the low income groups.
It is on the basis of the above that this study
was designed to examine the possibilities of
incorporating informal housing into the official urban
housing stock. Taking Kawangware as a case study data
are presented to show that informal housing are
characterised by low levels of education with most of
the inhabitants employed in informal sector activities
mainly located in the residential area itself. The
residents fall in the low income category of urbanites
defined as those whose monthly earnings are less than
Kshs. 2000. This limits the rent payment capacity
of such a population; the majority of the residents,
going by the Kawangware case study, can only pay
maximum rents not exceeding Kshs. 200 per month.
It is also evinced by this study that informal
housing dwellers consider their housing adequate and
are content with living in such dwellings built of
non-conventional materials. The basic problem faced
here is therefore one of poor health and sanitation
(manifested in poor toilets, stagnant dirty water, and
uncollected garbage, among others) and the lack of
proper access roads, rather than of dwelling units.
Using such findings, the study recommends the
incorporation of informal housing into the official
urban housing stock without upgrading at higher costs
by improving only services and facilities. Such
upgrading of services and facilities should therefore aim
at minimum standards to avoid incurring alot of
costs to the tenants through appreciated rents. This
way informal housing can help increase the urban
housing stock much faster. | en |
