Towards Self-Reliant Development: Inhabitant Housing Capacity Gap of Rural Inhabitants on Mt. Elgon

Michiel Smits

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeChapterScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

Rural communities in developing countries show a socially inclusive, resilient, and self-reliant model for their housing, despite the lack of individual capacities. However, due to scarce opportunities, many people move to the cities, often returning to challenging living conditions. As a result, both urban and rural inhabitants struggle to reach the desired living standards and well-being. This article explores general capacities of rural inhabitants in Kenya and identifies what shortages prevent inhabitant well-being within their housing. Outcomes of the interviews performed on two hundred families (four communities) evaluate whether the different communities still build housing by themselves, if they would like to continue this ‘self-reliant model’, or would prefer professionals ro realize their housing. The conclusion indicates that inhabitants would prefer to build housing by themselves and exposes why these communities change to ‘external’, housing solutions. Housing alternatives which lie within their capacities, play a crucial role in sustaining the communities’ self-reliance in relation to their housing.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSmart and Sustainable Cities and Buildings
EditorsRob Roggema, Anouk Roggema
Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
PublisherSpringer
Chapter35
Pages499-517
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-37635-2
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-37635-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care

Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

  • Self-reliance
  • Inhabitant capacities
  • Inhabitant-led development

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