GATED COMMUNITIES

Prof. O. Gakuru
Christopher Kiboro
Global Trends in Socio-economic and Urban
Development
Intensification of incorporation of developing countries
into urbanized global society
Population growth projections estimate that by 2030 the
world population will be over nine billion people
Ninety percent of this population will be urbanized
(Wichmann, 1995)
Developing countries are rapidly being incorporated into
this global process

It is projected that by 2025, four-fifths of all city dwellers
in the world will be living in developing world
Similar trends are visible in Kenya. Kenya is experiencing
rapid population growth and increased urbanization
The rate of urban population growth in Kenya stands at
4.2 percent annually (World Bank, 2012)
This is twice the rate of rural and total population growth
rates.
Nairobi has a total population of nearly 4 million people
and Mombasa nearly one million people.

This phenomenon is manifested by the rapid expansion
of cities as centers of wealth creation and consumption.
For example, the bulk of the goods produced in rural areas
is largely consumed by the urban population.
Needs of Urban Population
The urban population has got various needs. These
include:
Housing
Infrastructure transport, water, sanitation, etc
Food
However, it always appear that population growth
outmatches the provision of essential facilities and services
In Kenya, available evidence indicates that
although the demand for these services is growing,
a gap exists in providing these services. For
example the existence of slum settlements,
spontaneous peri-urban settlements (that are
unplanned and unregulated) and congestion is a
clear indication of the gap.

Housing in urban areas in particular has almost entirely
been provided by private sector.

Government has also attempted to meet the housing
demand for its employees but not adequately



Types of Housing/Dwelling in Urban Centers
Dwellings in urban centers can broadly be classified into
Housing Complexes, Estates and Suburbs. In addition, the
type of housing could either be low income housing or high
income housing.

The common types of housing in Nairobi city are:
Slums- for the urban poor

Low-cost government housing (for employees and tenant-
purchase schemes)
Tenant-purchase private housing (commonly found in the
estates and occupied mainly by the upper and middle-
class)
Peri-urban private housing (these can be both high and
low-cost housing that are for all classes but mainly the
middle-class.
Gated Communities (Largely for the high income group)

Gated Communities
Definition:
Gated communities are residential areas with restricted
access such that normally public spaces have been privatized.
Access to gated neighborhoods is controlled by physical
barriers in the form of walled or fenced perimeters and gated
or guarded entrances (Blakely and Snyder, 1997)


Gated communities can include new housing developments or
gentrification of older and often dilapidated residential areas
with barricades and fences. Enclosed neighborhoods prohibit
public access to roads, sidewalks, parks, open spaces, and
playgrounds that initially were open to the public
History of Gated Communities
Gated communities are developing at a quick pace globally
and have become an important product for the real-estate
industry.
Although gaining momentum and becoming widespread
phenomenon especially in urban areas in developing
countries, gated communities are not a new idea.


The origins of gated communities can be traced back to
around 300 B.C in England, with the earliest forms of
gated communities being reported to have been built by
the Romans (Blakely and Snyder, 1997).
Gated communities also appeared in the United States
when the upper-class started walling themselves off from
the negative consequences of the rapid industrialization in
the cities

Later, more and more gated communities started coming
up built by the high-end income citizens for privacy,
protection and prestige
The development of the master-planned retirement villages
in the U.S. in 1960 boosted the spread of gated
neighborhoods to the resorts, country clubs and middle-
class suburbs.
By 1980s, gated communities had become a common
feature especially around golf courses designed primarily
for leisure, prestige, and exclusivity.

During the same period, gated communities started coming
up out of fear as communities became increasingly
preoccupied with violent crime.
Since 1980s, there has been a rapid development of gated
communities not only in the U.S. but in all parts of the
world including countries in Africa such as Nigeria, South
Africa, and Kenya among others.

Factors Influencing Development of Gated
Communities
There are a number of factors contributing to the rapid
development of gated communities in Kenya and elsewhere in
the world.
Insecurity: Prevalence of crime and persistent state of
insecurity especially in the city, alters the behavior and
lifestyles of individuals and households residing in the city in
different ways.

To cope with heightened state of insecurity, most residents in
the city especially the upper and middle-upper classes erect
high walls, electrical fences, and strong grilled gates with
multiple locks or fitted with automated security systems
including CCTV surveillance.

Downtown Decay: Pollution, poor sanitation, congestion
and collapsed infrastructure in city centers has made places
that were initially attractive for residence less appealing for
habitation. As a result, the unpalatable conditions of
downtown are forcing the middle-upper and high-income
groups to move away from the noise and bustle of the city to a
more serene and cleaner environments.
Income: The growing middle-class and upper-class income
groups is also increasingly influencing the development of
gated communities because of their ability to afford. Tijerino
(1998) points out that the unique aspect of the increasingly
gated environments is that such neighborhoods are also
within the economic reach of middle and upper-class citizens.

Infrastructure boom: Kenya is experiencing tremendous
growth in infrastructure especially in the telecommunication
and transport sector.
Road improvement projects such as the Thika
Superhighway has enhanced urban expansion
The inhabitants of overcrowded settlements within the
urban center can now reside in the suburbs of the city
without many problems because of the ease in traveling in
and out of the city.
This has further heightened the demand for gated
communities that manifest country life in the city
hinterland especially among the upper and middle-upper
classes.
Types of Gated Communities
There are three main types of gated communities
a) Security gated communities (Security zones)
b) Prestige gated communities
c) Lifestyle gated communities
Impacts and Prospects of Gated Communities
Gated communities have helped to meet the housing
demands of the increasingly growing urban population
especially the middle-class and upper-class groups.
The rapid urbanization coupled with the growing middle
class and upper-class provides adequate market for gated
communities; thus making them viable economic
investments.
Thank you