W. H. A Olima

The impact of compulsory land acquisition on displaced households: The case of the Third Nairobi Water Supply Project, Kenya

Abstract This paper analyses the impact of compulsory land acquisition on displaced persons in Kenya. The analysis reveals that compulsory land acquisition quite often has far-reaching socio-economic impact on the lives of persons whose parcels of land are acquired. The effects of compulsory land acquisition identified included changes in income levels, land utilisation, land-ownership structure, farming practices, familial composition and cultural and social values, norms and bonds. In this paper, land acquisition, compensation and resettlement processes are briefly discussed. The main focus is, however, on the socio-economic impact that compulsory land acquisition has on the persons affected by the process. Some suggestions are made as to how the process can be improved in future. It is hoped that the lessons learned from this case study will be informative to decision makers not only in Kenya but also in other developing countries where public construction projects cause displacement of residents. Although the project and hence the affected people are located in a rural settlement, the purpose of the project is to supply water to Nairobi city. It is therefore a case of how urban projects can have far-reaching effects beyond urban boundaries.

The conflicts, shortcomings, and implications of the urban land management system in Kenya

Abstract Particularly during the last decade, there has been a clear recognition of the importance of urban land management in helping to alleviate urban poverty in the developing countries. It is argued that, managing the economic aspects of urban poverty has to aim at reforming regulations and codes that limit the access of the poor to urban land. This paper analyses the urban land management practice in Kenya. The analysis reveals that urban land management practice in Kenya has encouraged the politically, economically or socially powerful members of the society or those in authority to participate keenly in land acquisition and development. The result has been a situation of confusion and power struggles in the whole process of land delivery. The problems with urban land administration identified included inefficiencies in the public land allocation procedures, double and multiple plot allocations, irregular land allocations commonly referred to as land grabbing, re-allocation of plots, and land speculation and sale of plots. Some suggestions are made as to how the process can be improved in future. It is recommended that a policy framework and strategy for an improved urban land administration be instituted. This calls for an urgent need to formulate and implement both an appropriate and efficient land administration system as well as modernization of land information system.

Developer profits undermine residents’ satisfaction in Nairobi's residential neighbourhood: implications for local government in Kenya

Abstract This paper deals with the planning, delivery and implementation of a middle class housing scheme in Nairobi, focusing on the process of private sector residential area development. The paper analyses the planning aspects of a residential neighbourhood that were underestimated by the private developers, both at the formulation and implementation stage. Taking a case study of Claycity estate, the paper examines how the relationships between the private developer (land buying company) and purchasers, affect the process of housing development. The importance of neighbourhood design and issues of how developer profits undermined residents’ satisfaction are highlighted. The analysis reveals that it is the land sale contracts (and the interests associated with them) that are the problem, rather than neighbourhood design per se. The paper concludes that the emphasis must be on the politics of private profit making, which then have implications for neighbourhood design, site planning and development process. It has to be restated that the social transformation is the core function of a neighbourhood design and it can only be achieved through proper planning, administration and implementation of a development scheme with the overall goal being the achievement of a conducive environment to urban life.

The effect of existing land tenure systems on urban land development: A case study of Kenya’s secondary towns, with emphasis on Kisumu

Abstract The Kenya Government has over a number of years pursued policies geared towards the promotion of secondary towns. Included in this strategy is the achievement of an orderly and coordinated urban land development. However, experience from these towns indicates that, planned land development has encountered a lot of bottlenecks particularly in relation to the institution of private ownership of land. This paper traces the land tenure systems that have existed in the Kenya’s secondary towns. In general, the paper examines the effects of land tenure forms on the provision of housing and the related infrastructure. The effects of existing land tenure identified include influence on housing development, influence on planned land development, cloudiness of titles, hoarding and speculation, insecurity, inflexibility and inequity. The paper concludes by making suggestions based on the observed bottlenecks that should be considered to encourage and promote systematic urban land development in secondary towns.

The rationalisation of residential densities in an inner city area of Nairobi

Abstract The need for a rational land utilisation in the inner city areas of Nairobi is becoming increasingly recognised in the urban development. In particular, it is made more urgent by the rapidly increasing levels of urbanisation that has resulted into acute shortage of residential land for low-income households. Using the neighbourhood of Bahati Estate in Nairobi as a case study, this paper analyses the land utilisation in the inner city residential areas in Nairobi that were built before 1963. The analysis reveals that land in these neighbourhoods is currently under-utilised. This calls for a realistic strategy of intensifying the use of existing land. It is, therefore, recommended that a policy framework should be worked out within which the land rationalisation strategy would be operationalised.

The problems of project implementation: a post-mortem study of Thika Dam project, Kenya

Abstract This paper analyses the problems of project implementation programmes. Taking a case study of Thika Dam Component of the Third Nairobi Water Supply Project, the analysis reveals that delays in land acquisition among other factors had a serious impact on the overall performance of development project. The impact of delays in acquisition resulted into cost overruns due to price variations and time overruns. In this paper, the main focus is on the impact that the delays in land acquisition had on the successful completion of a development project. It further discusses the contribution of land availability to the realisation of project planning objectives. The macro-economic instability that Kenya faced during the project implementation is also highlighted. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide useful insights into policy matters concerning land acquisition in project implementation.