posted on 2024-09-05, 23:40authored byWinnie V. Mitullah
Those interested in urban development recognise that building
"low income" housing need not benefit poor or low income
groups. Kenya, like many other developing countries often
fails to attain the goals and objectives of housing policies
and plans geared for low income groups, this is reflected in
the mismatch of available housing forms. A substantial
percentage of urban residents occupy units that in terms of
policy and planning are intended for other groups. Of
particular concern are the very poor who often must live in
informal areas because middle income groups occupy housing
units planned for them.
Several factors contribute to policy failure or success. This
proposal contends four major factors determines the failure of
stated objectives of housing the urban poor: shortcomings of
housing policy at both central and local government levels;
the ineffectiveness of the institutions charged with the
implementation of policies; the limited role of the private
sector; and administrative and financial limitations. The
proposal raises questions regarding housing policy in Kenya
which can be summarised as follows:-
-: What is housing policy?
-: How is housing policy best established?
-: What are the institutional obstacles towards
achieving stated policy goals?
-: What are the socio-economic and political
implications of internal and external
financing.
The paper describes research in process that will evaluate
achievement of policy objectives for Umoja 1, a low income
tenant purchase housing scheme in Nairobi. Selected
institutions that participated in its implementation as well
and other institutions handling low income housing will also
be examined.
History
Publisher
Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi
Citation
Mitullah, Winnie V. (1992), State policy and urban housing in Kenya: the case of low income housing in Nairobi, Working paper no. 485, Nairobi: Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi
Series
Working papers 485
IDS Item Types
Series paper (non-IDS)
Copyright holder
Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi