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HIGH URBAN POPULATION GROWTH IS A COMBINATION OF FACTORS SUCH AS RURAL TO URBAN MIGRATION AND HIGH NATURAL URBAN POPULATION GROWTH RATES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO MEET THE EVER GROWING DEMAND FOR HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES. THIS HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SLUM AND SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS. CURRENTLY, 60% OF NAIROBI´S 3 MILLION RESIDENTS LIVE IN AREAS REGARDED AS SLUMS AND SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS. TO EASE THE HOUSING CRISIS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NAIROBI CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A "SPECIAL SUBDIVISION APPROVAL SYSTEM WITH THE AIM OF MAKING LAND AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSES, THROUGH THE PROCESS REFERRED TO AS SELF-BUILD HOUSING. SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF SELF-BUILD HOUSING IS THAT IT UTILIZES APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES, LOCAL MATERIALS AND CREATES EMPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, PROBLEMS RELATED TO TENURE, DEVELOPMENT OF BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCING HAVE POSED GREAT CHALLENGES TO THE SELF- BUILDERS. THESE CHALLENGES HAVE FORCED MOST OF THEM TO ADOPT AN INCREMENTAL HOUSE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. FUTURE HOUSING POLICY SHOULD REGULARIZE TENURE, PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHASED FINANCING THROUGH LOCAL WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN SELF-BUILD AREAS.

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Peter K. Kamau is an Urban and Regional Environmental Planner. He is currently chair and lecturer in the Department of Environmantal Planning and Management, Kenyatta University, Nairobi Kenya. His research interests are in the field of Urban Housing, land use, infrastructure, poverty and participatory governance especially in developing countries.

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