Urban informality in planned neighbourhoods A case of home based enterprises in Buru-buru estate in Nairobi county

Abstract

This research focuses on informal sector activities in planned neighbourhood. Using Buru-Buru as a case study, the research interrogates the nature and types of informal sector activities in planned neighbourhoods, their drivers, impacts, and possible planning intervention. The research made use of a holistic methodology combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches drawing from primary and secondary data sources. The key drivers of informality include various policy interventions, population growth and urbanization, and weaknesses within planning institutions. Further to this, the neighbourhood model as applied in Buru-Buru has demonstrated some weaknesses that have contributed to informality within the estate. The neighbourhood has undergone densification fuelled by low plot coverage, rising demand for residential and commercial space, as well as weaknesses in enforcement of development control. Most of the informal sector activities operate in contravention to planning regulations, zoning and building standards. The study further reveals that the informal sector is dominated with retail activities, most of which are survivalist in nature. This demonstrates the weaknesses in the economic structure of the country that has failed to adequately provide for livelihood opportunities. As a long term intervention, the study recommends the use of regional planning as a tool for generating livelihood opportunities. In the short term, the study recommends a mixture of interventions such as use of localised development control instruments to control proliferation of informal sector activities, as well as accommodation of some of the activities, within agreed upon standards to address the issue of livelihoods. This also calls for modification of the neighbourhood planning model to reflect the dynamics of our urban areas.