| dc.description.abstract | Kibera is the largest slum areas in Nairobi and the largest urban slum in Africa (UN-HABITAT,
2008). It‟s characterized by poorly constructed mabati (iron sheet) structures, poor-drainage
systems, and lack of clean water, electricity, medical care etc. Most of Kibera slum residents live
in extreme poverty, earning less than Ksh. 100 per day. The government of Kenya set up the
Kenya Slum Upgrading Program (KENSUP) in 2004 whose main aim was to provide low-cost
housing to residents living in the slum areas including Kibera, Mathare, Kayole and Dandora.
The Kibera Soweto East Project also dubbed „The Canaan Estate‟ was one of the first projects
under the program and comprised of 21 blocks of five floors each sitting in a five-acre piece of
land. However in 2017, more than half of the apartments had been given out for renting or sold
by the allocated owners and the residents went back to the slum. The major reason for these
phenomenon was due economical enrichment. 40% of the residents preferred to rent their houses
as means of earning extra income. However, 50% of the residents stated that the houses did not
cater for their needs and lifestyles taking into consideration that they now own the houses. The
slum houses allows them to manipulate as well as modify their interior spaces, a concept they are
not able to implement in their new houses. This is indeed a great challenge due to their rapid
growth in population and change in need and lifestyle over time. This study therefore sought to
determine how flexible are the interior spaces of the low-cost housing units in Kibera and
establish how they accommodate different arrangement of furniture pieces as well as allow
performance of different tasks/functions within a particular space. The research design was the
case study model where the research employs the collection and analysis of qualitative data
obtained through examination of documents, interviews, observation and taking of photographs.
The study was carried out at The Kibera Soweto East Housing Project, Kenya and its residents
plus the professionals are involved in the project are the respondents. Findings revealed that the
government did try to ensure that the low-cost houses are kept simple, regular/standard by
installing standard window and door sizes, eliminating storage facilities apart from the kitchen,
installing tiles for the floor, walls for the bathroom and counter top for the kitchen and also
installing normal light fixtures, kitchen shelves and sanitary ware. This study findings
contributes to informing the development of interior plans and layouts that are ideal for low-cost
housing units. Affordability can indeed be achieved in low-cost housing but if the interior plans
and layouts are not up to standard then it fails to fulfil its purpose of improving the living
standards and quality of life of residents living in these housing units. | en_US |
