Housing insecurity and conflict in Nairobi: Comparing the dynamics of low-income urban settlements

Rapid urbanization often fuels the expansion of low-income settlements, where competition over space and scarce economic opportunities can spark violent conflict. Such settlements are characterized by insufficient infrastructure, low-quality housing, and are often built informally on public land; yet in reality, the extent and dynamics of housing insecurity vary extensively, as does the extent to which housing insecurity becomes a focal point of political and intergroup conflict. We argue that the way in which these settlements were established and grew over time, along with local political dynamics, and macro-level government policies condition how housing insecurity intersects with urban conflict. We study these dynamics through a comparative analysis of two settlements in Nairobi: Korogocho and Kawangware. Drawing on rich empirical data—a survey, interviews and focus groups—our analysis advances understanding of how housing insecurity intersects with political and intergroup conflict and contributes to key debates about the impact of informality and formality on urban insecurity and conflict, as well as to the literature on historical claims to land as a central driver of urban conflict. In essence, diverse historical origins of low-income settlements shape local political dynamics and claim-making in ways that create distinct pathways to housing insecurity and its potential to generate collective mobilization.