The Fantasy of “Controlled Housing Development” versus Reality: Evaluating Housing Development and Urbanization in Nairobi City, Kenya

Abstract

Two parallel urban land development processes shape urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa, namely, formal and informal urban land development processes. Urban areas in Kenya depict these two land development processes, with their divide in most cases becoming increasingly blurred. The informal land development process occurs within a ‘regulated’ environment. Not only that, but developments are often characterized by a disconnected growth pattern such that housing development precedes the provision of necessary infrastructure, resulting in fragmented developments and urban environments. This article evaluates housing development and urbanization trends to understand the dynamics that drive the informality within the new residential neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city of Nairobi, particularly the Nasra Garden Estate. Utilizing qualitative and spatial analysis, the research explores the dissonance between urban planning regulations and actual development practices in the Nasra neighbourhood. The findings show that private developers operating with limited oversight from the authorities buy land promoted for “controlled neighbourhood development” schemes by land-buying and selling companies. However, subsequent development on these lands occurs incrementally without proper adherence to planning procedures and regulations, and often lacks crucial infrastructure such as sewer systems, water supply networks, and paved roads. As a result, the initial “controlled” development in these neighbourhoods is gradually lost. Therefore, the study underscores the necessity to reconcile formal planning frameworks with on-the-ground realities in African cities to bridge the fantasy–reality gap in urban growth.