Challenges in the provision of Housing in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas in Kenya: Case Study of Lodwar Town, Kenya

Abstract

This paper examines challenges facing the newly established County Governments, especially in Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASAL) in Kenya after the promulgation in 2010 of the new constitutional dispensation order that created the devolved system of County Governments. The paper is based on a study carried out in Lodwar town, Turkana County whose main objective was to examine factors that hamper provision of housing in the ASAL regions of the country using Lodwar town as a case study.  It is noted that Lodwar town sits largely on trust land, and currently does not have strict zoning regulations; it suffers from inadequate housing, public recreational facilities, health care facilities, infrastructure (roads, water, power, etc.) among others. In order to achieve the stated objective, the study adopted and adapted a mixed methods research strategy which allowed for collection of both quantitative and qualitative data from various sources (Mugenda, O.M. & Mugenda A.G 199; Kothari, 2004) which was then analysed using appropriate analytical tools. The study findings show that there is a shortage of housing for all income groups in Lodwar town due to inability of the Turkana county government to create an enabling environment for Public/Private Partnership (PPP) in housing provision.