Effect of Affordable Housing Policies on Urban Slums in Nairobi: Dilemmas, Opportunities, and Lessons learnt in the Region.

Abstract

This is a study of the impact the Kenya Affordable Housing Programme had on the urban slums in Nairobi based on peer-reviewed literature and rigorously verified secondary data. Although the programme has increased the total stock of housing, only a small proportion of newly built housing is available to the lowest income earners in the city, which means that around 60 per cent of the population continues to stay in informal settlements. Continued affordability differences, poor infrastructure and high utility expenses also limit substantive access. Comparison of Dar es Salaam and Kampala shows similarities in the city problems, which implies the applicability of the results to the region. The research highlights the need to have integrated policy frameworks, i.e., a mix of housing supply, affordability tools, infrastructure investment and inclusive governance in order to have sustainable urban outcomes.