Determinants of the expansion of commercial building zones in Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of commercial building zones expansion in Nairobi County, Kenya. It was guided by four research objectives. They included establishing influence of infrastructure on commercial building zones expansion in Nairobi County; determining influence of participatory planning on commercial building zones expansion in Nairobi County; to examine the influence of the changes in regulations on commercial building zones expansion in Nairobi County; and establishing influence of environment on commercial building zones expansion Nairobi County. The study used a descriptive survey design and purposive sampling in selecting the respondents. The target population for this study was 1637 comprising of 1200 architectural firms (Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors), 330 registered estate agents (Estate Agents Board), and 107 property developers (Kenya Property Developers Association). Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select a sample size of 384 respondents from 4 zones out of 20 zones in Nairobi County. Developers, real estate agents and architectural firms formed the strata for proportionate stratified sampling in this study. The sample was drawn proportionately from each of these three strata. Purposive sampling was used in selecting the five (5) officials in the Nairobi County Department of Planning who were interviewed as key informants for this study. A pilot study of 12 respondents was carried out in Kikuyu Town. This study used a structured questionnaire to collect data. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data and Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used as an aid for analysis. Results of analyzed data were then presented in frequency tables. Infrastructure development was found to have influenced expansion of commercial buildings zones. Urban planning was found to influence expansion of commercial buildings in Nairobi County. The findings of this study have shown that changes in legislative framework and regulations influenced development of commercial buildings. Environmental issues were found to have influenced expansion of commercial buildings in Nairobi County. The study revealed that there is expansion of commercial building zones. Residential buildings being converted to commercial buildings and new commercial buildings illustrated this expansion. This study concluded that increased infrastructure development will lead to expansion of commercial building zones. The study also concluded that increased participation by various stakeholders in urban planning will lead to expansion of commercial building zones. The study concluded that changes in legislative framework will slow expansion of commercial building zones in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study also concluded that the more the congestion, obstruction and hazards an area is, the less the expansion of commercial building zones. This study recommends that the National government of Kenya should ensure that there is infrastructure development according to needs in the city to support commercial buildings zones. The study also recommends that Nairobi County should embrace participatory planning in urban development. The study also recommends that Kenyan parliament and the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban development should ensure that laws and regulations in place adequately meet and serve commercial buildings zones. This study recommends that National Environment Management Authority should have clear guidelines to address environmental issues influencing commercial buildings zones.