Implications of Gated Community Housing on Urban Space

A Case Study of Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the implications of Gated Communities (GCs) on the urban space. This study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. Questionnaires, interviews and observations were the research tools used to collect data from the 186 households spread across eight gated communities. Data was analyzed using qualitative techniques and findings were presented descriptively and graphically. The positive implications of Gated Communities in Nairobi County were that they presented a platform for the optimum land utilization form of high-density neighborhoods, offered compact, secure, well-served, well-planned and cost-effective neighborhoods. In contrast, the influx of gated communities in Nairobi County had negatively affected the urban fabric due to: reduced public space and permeability of a city, security measures that created social division of affluent versus poor leading to negative impact in terms of urban sustainability, and the high walls created physical borders indicating division in the city. The study recommends integrated housing master plan for Nairobi City County promoting maintenance of the urban structure and landscape with balance between private and public spaces, sharing of commercial, institutional, public open and entertainment zones by the poor and affluent neighbourhoods, and creation of continuous urban fabric with permeable spaces with no beginnings nor ends to enhance security on the city streets.