Security, Community Organization and Privatization of Public Space: An analysis of gated neighbourhoods in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Controlling access and gatting is perhaps the only way most residents of Nairobi, Kenya, continue to fight crime in their neighbourhoods. This is mainly facilitated through a residents or a neighbourhood association who decide to control access to their neighbourhood by having one or two security points. Based on an empirical study of three regions in Nairobi, the aim of this paper is to (1) provide an overview of neighbourhood associations in Nairobi and their organizational structures; (2) explain the reasons behind their formation as well as that of privatizing public space; (3) examine the security measures they employ; and (4) analyze the types of control these neighbourhoods have, their role in promoting territorialism, segregation, inclusion and exclusion, and their impact on mobility and planning of the city.