Paper short abstract:

This paper clarifies land delivery systems in informal settlements in Nairobi. It was found out that pseudo-customary and pseudo-formal systems function together in delivering land and securing land tenure. These systems are closely related to the governance structure and site layout planning.

Paper long abstract:

In most African cities, informal settlements, which develop outside of governmentally controlled urban planning, meet mushrooming housing needs. Informal settlements are now a widespread phenomenon, reaching not only low-quality housing of poor and low-income people, but also detached houses and high-rise apartments of middle and high-income people. The purpose of this paper is to empirically clarify land delivery systems in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya.

The analysis showed that pseudo-customary and pseudo-formal systems function together in delivering land and securing land tenure. The former system is community-based and characterized by a series of procedures for delivering land and securing land tenure: occupation of land in a traditional manner; unplanned site layout; oral agreement on land transaction; and influential community leader on land and people that belong to the community. This indicates that the system derives from the customary land delivery process and mechanisms for securing land tenure under the authority of a traditional chief in rural areas. The latter system is characterized by a series of procedures for delivering land and securing land tenure: land subdivision by profit-oriented external group, or developer; planned site layout; written agreement on land transaction; and issuance of forms as a proof of land ownership. This indicates that the system refers to the modern land registration procedure and urban planning standards. Lastly, it was found out that these land-related systems are closely related to the governance structure and site layout planning.