Policy Brief No. 11 of 2022-2023 on Analyses of the Housing Status and Access to Basic Infrastructure in Nairobi City County: Disparities and Deprivation Index

Abstract

Access to basic infrastructure is a key constituent and a prerequisite for affordable housing. Article 43(1)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya stipulates that access to adequate housing and reasonable sanitation standards is a right for all citizens. Further, the provision of affordable housing is prioritized as one of the National Government’s pillars of growth under the “Big Four” agenda, which targets to provide 500,000 decent housing in major cities and towns across various counties in Kenya alongside basic infrastructure to address the housing deficit. Under the Affordable Housing Project (AHP), Nairobi City County is among the counties prioritized for the initial phase of the AHP as it accounts for the highest housing deficit. About 60 per cent of Nairobi County residents live in informal settlements characterized by inadequate housing and dilapidated infrastructure. One of the critical constituents for affordable housing is access to basic infrastructure and quality housing, often lowly regarded in the planning and development of affordable housing projects. The rate of urbanization in Kenya is projected to remain high, with at least 50 per cent of the population living in urban areas by 2050. This poses a challenge in access to affordable access to basic infrastructure, especially in cities.