Determinants and Outcomes of Property-led Urban Land Use Succession in Upper Hill, Nairobi

Abstract

This research explores property-led Urban Land Use Succession, driven by private actors financed by local or global capital. Though it has helped reimagine cities it has contrarily led to conflicts such as environmental misfits and incoherent street-scape. In Upper Hill, factors like land tenure, and property planning controls eased redevelopment on privately owned land rather than state land resulting in patchwork land use patterns. This occurred within the context of a few relevant studies on the subject relating to Kenya, inhibiting a clear understanding of the underlying determinants. A case study of Upper Hill was investigated to engender resolution of the conflicts. A mixed-method approach using history, survey were used to collect secondary and primary data through structured, unstructured interviews, observation and photography. Hypotheses testing was used to establish the contribution of each determinant. The study found that both global capital and spatial policy comprising planning decisions, land tenure and public investment in capital were the determinants of succession. It also found that redevelopment in private land was faster than on public land yet reliance on outdated policy standards and plans left the county government officers with weak tools to manage the phenomenon. Hypothesis testing indicated that spatial policy was the key determinant. Based on these findings the study recommends further studies to assess the role of the cooperative movement in the succession phenomenon and assess any future changes in the ULUS determinants. The study also developed an alternative model to help policy-makers and implementors streamline the phenomenon. It comprised strategies like preparation of an urban land use succession policy, a 30–50-year strategy for Nairobi, land assembly, amendment of Public Procurement and Finance Act to link budgeting to approved physical and land use development plans. It further includes the establishment of an Urban Redevelopment Authority and captures integration of all categories of landowners into the management of the redevelopment the agenda