Towards a renewal model for Eastlands of Nairobi: a case study of shauri Moyo

Abstract

Urban renewal is a continuous process in all growing and aging cities. Over - time, standards change, life - styles, population composition and structure, values, technologies demands and needs change. No amount of flexibility can accommodate all the possible changes, as there are elastic limits for human and material adaptability. Urban systems having a life span longer than the human generations can .only be sustained and maintained by regular and periodic repairs which may be di~stiC or surgical. While population increase accelerate urban growth and extension involving -new residential developments, the changing pattern of needs of the older residential areas must never be forgotten. The study has focused on historical origins of the present urban spatial structure and low income housing location in Nairobi. The link of low income location and employment centers has equally been established. The illusion of low housing cost with distance from the employment center, age and decay gradient however establishes needs to ~e~develop the east lands at higher use intensities and integrate current standards of services accommodation, and new land use demands, e.g income-mix, enterprise and industrial mix. Innovation in new urban forms and lands tenure system will require policy guidelines for implementation•