Much of the scholarly literature in the ‘Global South’ focuses on informalities associated with lower-income groups, sub-standard housing and services, poverty, and marginalisation. Thus, research on informal practices beyond poverty has remained vague. This thesis contributes to filling this gap by offering empirical and conceptual insights into the informality phenomenon by critically analysing the informality practises and the role of illegal actors (particularly the land and development cartels) within middle-income neighbourhoods in Nairobi, Kenya. The study also delves into the planning approaches and strategies for addressing these informal practices. The thesis is grounded on a case study analysis of three neighbourhoods in the city that explore informality nuances. The methods employed encompass semi-structured interviews, walking interviews, observations, and focus group discussions. The research is organised into three articles addressing three questions central to the informality problem. The first article investigates the nuances of informal housing practices prevalent in middle-income neighbourhoods of Nairobi, specifically focusing on the Kilimani, Komarock, and Nasra neighbourhoods. It uncovers how the middle-income population partake in informal actions resulting in spatial transformation, unregulated densification, illegal home renovations, housing extensions and improvements, and informal peri-urbanisation. It indicates the profound role of informal housing in fulfilling the housing needs of the middle-income population against the inadequacies of the formal housing sector and underscores the stark development disparities between neighbourhoods. The paper calls for further investigations into the density impacts and system dynamics that foster such informalities while providing a significant reference for similar studies in other geographies. The second research paper unveils the pervasive role of cartels’ infiltration in urban planning and their contribution to informal housing developments in middle-income neighbourhoods of Nairobi. Backed by politicians, bureaucrats, and law enforcement officials, cartels exploit zoning policy loopholes to unlawfully acquire land, invest in real estate, and influence housing regulations for financial and power gains. These practices facilitate the proliferation of informal housing developments and practices. Notably, the paper implies that investigating criminal group issues necessitates focusing on the illegal actors across income groups and enhancing better regulation in the real estate sector. The paper underscores the urgent need for transparency, revision of outdated policy frameworks, and depoliticisation of urban development to mitigate such malpractices and improve Nairobi’s urban governance and housing conditions. The third paper examines the effectiveness of previous and current planning methods and policy interventions that address informal housing in middle-income neighbourhoods. Specifically, the study draws attention to ad hoc approval approaches and regularisation as strategies commonly used to solve the issue of informality in middle-income neighbourhoods. The findings highlight how political interference and conflicting rationalities undermine the effective enforcement of policies like the Regularisation Act of 2015, contributing to the persistence of informalities. With the Act primarily being used as a revenue tool rather than facilitating orderly developments, the majority of the city’s residential buildings remain informal; hence, the study concludes that a broader, more comprehensive approach incorporating governance, socio-economic needs, culture, and power dynamics is necessary for addressing housing informality.

Reconsidering informality: Informal housing practices, illegal actors, and planning response strategies within middle-income neighbourhoods in Nairobi city Kenya / Jimmy, EUNICE NTHAMBI. - (2024 Jan 22).

Reconsidering informality: Informal housing practices, illegal actors, and planning response strategies within middle-income neighbourhoods in Nairobi city Kenya.

JIMMY, EUNICE NTHAMBI
2024-01-22

Abstract

Much of the scholarly literature in the ‘Global South’ focuses on informalities associated with lower-income groups, sub-standard housing and services, poverty, and marginalisation. Thus, research on informal practices beyond poverty has remained vague. This thesis contributes to filling this gap by offering empirical and conceptual insights into the informality phenomenon by critically analysing the informality practises and the role of illegal actors (particularly the land and development cartels) within middle-income neighbourhoods in Nairobi, Kenya. The study also delves into the planning approaches and strategies for addressing these informal practices. The thesis is grounded on a case study analysis of three neighbourhoods in the city that explore informality nuances. The methods employed encompass semi-structured interviews, walking interviews, observations, and focus group discussions. The research is organised into three articles addressing three questions central to the informality problem. The first article investigates the nuances of informal housing practices prevalent in middle-income neighbourhoods of Nairobi, specifically focusing on the Kilimani, Komarock, and Nasra neighbourhoods. It uncovers how the middle-income population partake in informal actions resulting in spatial transformation, unregulated densification, illegal home renovations, housing extensions and improvements, and informal peri-urbanisation. It indicates the profound role of informal housing in fulfilling the housing needs of the middle-income population against the inadequacies of the formal housing sector and underscores the stark development disparities between neighbourhoods. The paper calls for further investigations into the density impacts and system dynamics that foster such informalities while providing a significant reference for similar studies in other geographies. The second research paper unveils the pervasive role of cartels’ infiltration in urban planning and their contribution to informal housing developments in middle-income neighbourhoods of Nairobi. Backed by politicians, bureaucrats, and law enforcement officials, cartels exploit zoning policy loopholes to unlawfully acquire land, invest in real estate, and influence housing regulations for financial and power gains. These practices facilitate the proliferation of informal housing developments and practices. Notably, the paper implies that investigating criminal group issues necessitates focusing on the illegal actors across income groups and enhancing better regulation in the real estate sector. The paper underscores the urgent need for transparency, revision of outdated policy frameworks, and depoliticisation of urban development to mitigate such malpractices and improve Nairobi’s urban governance and housing conditions. The third paper examines the effectiveness of previous and current planning methods and policy interventions that address informal housing in middle-income neighbourhoods. Specifically, the study draws attention to ad hoc approval approaches and regularisation as strategies commonly used to solve the issue of informality in middle-income neighbourhoods. The findings highlight how political interference and conflicting rationalities undermine the effective enforcement of policies like the Regularisation Act of 2015, contributing to the persistence of informalities. With the Act primarily being used as a revenue tool rather than facilitating orderly developments, the majority of the city’s residential buildings remain informal; hence, the study concludes that a broader, more comprehensive approach incorporating governance, socio-economic needs, culture, and power dynamics is necessary for addressing housing informality.
22-gen-2024
Housing Informality; Middle income; Informality beyond Poverty; Informality of the well-off; Planning for informality
Reconsidering informality: Informal housing practices, illegal actors, and planning response strategies within middle-income neighbourhoods in Nairobi city Kenya / Jimmy, EUNICE NTHAMBI. - (2024 Jan 22).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12571/34285
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