Perceived Factors Influencing Development of Sustainable Housing Projects in Peri-urban Areas: the Case of Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Access to adequate housing and reasonable sanitation is a basic human right enshrined in Kenya’s constitution in the year 2010. The urban housing demand can be met in part by sustainable housing projects in the peri-urban zone. The study set out to ascertain the influence that certain factors had on the development sustainable housing projects in periurban areas in Kajiado North sub-county, Kenya. This study had four specific objectives which were: to establish the influence of economic factors on development of sustainable housing projects in peri-urban areas; to determine the influence of social factors on development of sustainable housing projects in peri-urban areas; to determine the influence of environmental factors on development of sustainable housing projects in peri-urban areas; to establish the influence of technical factors on development of sustainable housing projects in peri-urban areas. The study was designed to assess the hypothesis that the perceived economic, social, environmental and technical factors; had a significant influence on the development sustainable housing projects in peri-urban areas in Kenya. Twenty indicators were derived from the conceptual and theoretical frameworks; these indicators were used to assess the influence that the independent variables had on sustainable housing projects. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out in Kajiado North. The target population was constituted from the project beneficiaries, housing developers and professionals in the built-environment from the study area. A stratified sampling method was employed to pick a sample size of 155 study participants from the target population. During a field survey, data was collected using questionnaires containing a five point likert scale; it was then tabulated and coded. The analysis of the study’s results utilising both descriptive statistics and a multiple regression model, ascertained that the influence of economic factors on sustainable housing projects was the most significant; followed by the social, technical and environmental factors respectively. The study concluded that the perceived economic, social, environmental and technical factors induced a significant influence on the development of sustainable housing projects in peri-urban areas. The study recommended that sustainable development principles should be incorporated into the design, planning and execution of peri-urban housing projects. Finally, further research into the impact of green construction practices and the influence of Kenya’s devolved governance system on the development of sustainable peri-urban housing was recommended.