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Paper short abstract

This paper examines how the Kenyan government exerts its dominance in the conversation on affordable housing in informal settlements and the possibility of utilising existing spaces to contest its influence.

Paper long abstract

Rapid urbanisation in African cities has lasting impact on their planning, management and functioning . As the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi grapples with the need for affordable, decent housing for its citizens. In this case, the rapid urbanisation of the city and challenges in providing affordable housing and settlements exacerbated the challenge of informality. The current administration has initiated and implemented various affordable housing projects all over the city. There is continued demolition of new sites in the east and south of the city in areas such as Makongeni and the Marigoini informal settlement. Even with the local communities moving to court and gaining an injunction, the government went ahead and cleared the site. This is an example of the exertion of state power and leads us to question whether there is room for engagement that is constructive and beneficial for such communities. Using qualitative methodology, this paper examines the possibility of leveraging existing spaces to contest and influence the state and gain concessions for communities that have called these areas home for decades.