Informal Settlements Upgrading Interventions and their Implications for Liveability: A Case of Kibra, Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation in developing countries has accelerated the growth of informal settlements, characterised by poor housing, weak infrastructure, tenure insecurity, environmental degradation, and poverty. This study investigated the extent to which past informal settlement upgrading interventions have improved Liveability in Kibra Informal Settlement, Nairobi City County. This study is anchored on Pacione's Liveability Framework (2003), which conceptualises Liveability as multidimensional, encompassing housing quality, access to basic services, environmental quality, safety, tenure security, socio-economic well-being, and residents' satisfaction. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 152 households through structured questionnaires, 22 key informant interviews, field observations, and secondary sources. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined thematically. The findings reveal that although infrastructure such as roads (78.3%), street lighting (74.3%), and water supply (65.8%) was upgraded, overall Liveability remains critically low. Housing conditions are severely inadequate: 67% of residents live in semi-permanent structures, 8% in temporary dwellings, and only 5% in permanent houses. Approximately 80% of residents are tenants, 69% struggle to meet rent payments, 66% live in single-room houses, and 59% earn less than Ksh 10,000 per month. Furthermore, only 38% are connected to the main sewer, while 42.6% dispose of solid waste in open spaces, reflecting persistent environmental health challenges. The study concludes that past interventions achieved only partial improvements because they prioritised physical infrastructure while neglecting socio-economic dimensions, including housing quality, affordability, tenure security, and livelihood enhancement.