Strategic Approaches to Affordable Houses in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The objective of the study was to establish the strategic approaches to affordable homes in Kenya with specific reference to Nairobi County. This study adopted a qualitative research design. Primary data was derived from interview guides formulated to target top management of several stakeholder organizations. The researcher personally administered the interview guide to the managers of Nairobi City County, top managers from the Ministry of lands and Urban Development, and top managers in Housing Finance Institutions who were handy in providing the relevant information sought by the researcher. Responses from managers indicate that some of the strategic approaches adopted to affordable housing include: efficient and effective resource allocation mechanism among responsible departments in the housing department, formulation, implementation and review of the county housing sector policy, improving the living environment in slums and informal settlements through slum upgrading as this is where most people do not have affordable homes. In addition the respondents stated promotion of low cost housing development through housing sector incentives, promotion of research and utilization of appropriate building materials and technologies and coordination of stakeholders on housing and human settlement matters in the county. It is important that the stakeholders` management but more relevantly the county of Nairobi explores the possibility of outsourcing additional functions such as land allocation, rates collection, and research on ways of making housing affordable as well as city planning. If this is done, it is hoped; the competitive positioning of the county and other housing stakeholders will be taken a notch higher and is likely to create value and a sustainable affordable housing. It is recommended from the study that for the right to adequate housing to become a sustainable reality for the urban poor a lot needs to be put in place. Kenya probably has had enough policy advice already but with minimal notable results in affordable housing. The fact that years of policy advice and pledges have not produced dramatic reductions in slums suggests that something very fundamental is lacking in the country: visionary, democratic and dedicated leadership. Substantially realizing the right to adequate housing demands, among other things, that Kenyan leaders develop and manifest the political will to live up to their commitments. It also demands that these leaders should be continuously pressurized through legal and peaceful strategies to fully implement their commitments to the poor.