Factors influencing provision of low cost housing in Nairobi county, Kenya

Abstract

Housing is the leading component of urbanization and access to quality, affordable housing is critical in any society. The housing situation in Nairobi city just like in most cities in developing countries is such that housing demand far outstrips supply. The housing market providers have been unable to provide affordable housing to middle and low income earners in Nairobi. This problem has often been linked to land acquisition problem, low income levels of the individuals in this category and their inability to access funds, high cost of building materials, statutory regulations and non-use of locally available building materials. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing provision of low cost housing in Nairobi County in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The target population of this study was 120 property development entities in Nairobi County, Kenya. A sample size of 30 was drawn from the target population through simple random sampling. A questionnaire was used as primary data collection instrument. Data was then be coded and tabulated to enable the responses to be grouped into various categories using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Frequency distribution tables were summarized where percentages and other diagrams such as bar charts, grouped frequency distributions and pie charts were used for data presentation. Descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviation and frequency distribution were used to analyze the data. Inferential statistics correlation and regressions analysis was done to establish the extent to which the said factors influence provision of low cost housing solutions in Nairobi County. The study discovered that cost and availability building materials, cost and availability of land and levels of infrastructure development influenced provision of low cost housing. The study recommended that that a comprehensive and well-coordinated support infrastructure is central to the provision of low cost housing. The high expense of developing houses due to high costs of building materials, land and infrastructure which has kept off potential developers from the low cost housing sector needs to be addressed. Increased use of alternative and cheaper building materials needs to be encouraged and the Government needs to facilitate development of off-site infrastructure and land servicing which is a critical component of the realization of low cost housing.