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ATELIER NAIROBI

“....there is more land allocated for golf courses in Nairobi than there is for housing. It is pertinent to know that 25% of land in Nairobi city is occupied

by low density development”

Maduke, J. 2012/ Director, International Union of NGO’s (IUN)

Nairobi, the capital of Kenya is one city that has witnessed rapid urban growth with both its positive and negative consequences. Despite being the youngest in the region, Nairobi is the largest city in East Africa. With over 3.2 million inhabitants, 75% of whom are living in areas classified as slums, it has experienced one of the highest urban growth rates in Africa. The slums only cover 5% of the entire city land mass. It has been acknowledged that the high number of slum dwellers can be closely linked to the enormous housing deficit for middle and low income earners in Nairobi.


Some of the most distinct slums in Nairobi are Mathare, Korogocho and the largest being Kibera. (Nairobi Urban Sector Profile, 2006) Recently the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with the ministry of Environment and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure have confirmed the statement presented by a coalition of Nairobi civil organizations, which indicated that land designated for housing for

inhabitants of Nairobi is far less than land assigned for golfing activitiesin the city.

Following a press release by the director of the international non-governmental organization known as- Decent Housing for All, Mrs Jane Maduke stated “there is more land allocated and used for golf courses in Nairobi than there is for housing and 25% of land in Nairobi city is occupied by low density”.

 

In April 2013, under the directive of the Mayor of Nairobi, the ministries above mentioned were asked to set up a taskforce to look into changing land use in Nairobi. After much deliberation and negotiations with key politicians, organizations, corporations and the patron members of the Royal Nairobi Golf Course (RNGC), it was agreed upon and promulgated that the golf course that is located in a key location in Nairobi city should be given a change in land use, that is, opened up for development by changing its use from “private recreational” to “a new housing neighbourhood”.

Objective: to plan and design the newly opened Royal Nairobi Golf Course

for human settlement: a liveable neighbourhood

VISION + GOALS + STRATEGIES

 

To illustrate the main concerns and to arrive to social and economic concepts, each group developed a vision to their neigbourhood. Minor goals that are part of the common vision were outlined by the groups and, from these objectives, strategies started to be designed, taking into account the SMART objectives concept, that include aspects like feasibility, affordability and time-relation. This concerns are determinant to the project performance during implementation and service provision phases.

 

In the Nairobi case, constraints related to feasibility included both governmental and low income dwellers financial resources, and lack of integration in the government local and national spheres.

 

Solutions pointed to bottom-up development with community participation strategies and inclusion of stakeholders, including private sector and existent local NGO’s.

"A NEIGHBOURHOOD WHERE LOW  INCOME PEOPLE CAN ENJOY THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, SERVICES AND AMENITIES AS OTHER INCOME LEVELS IN THE CITY. A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DESIGN NOT ONLY FOR ITS PHYSICAL ASPECTS, BUT ALSO  BECAUSE OF THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL INCLUSION, SECURITY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER POOR AREAS WORLDWIDE IN THE PURSUIT OF BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS."  Vision Group 1

HOUSING + LIVELIHOOD + RESILIENCE

 

The atelier addresses to the housing issue in Kibera, showcasing possible inspiring solutions for this problem – low supply and high demand for low and medium income residential units. Also, the slums in Nairobi are high density settlements with high criminality rates and poor sanitary conditions and, in these slums, many inhabitants are renters of their dwellings, which are provided by structure owners that may live or not in the area – which builds up to the complexity of the situation. Groups also proposed social, economic and cultural programs and interventions, aiming to close the loop of a sustainable and livable neighbourhood.

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