Examining urban rental housing typologies and climate adaptation for low-income communities in Nairobi
The Urban Rental Housing and Climate Resilience Project addresses critical gaps in understanding urban rental housing in Kenya, focusing on the classification and mapping of different physical urban rental housing typologies and their climate resilience implications. With about 91% of Nairobi households renting, the project tackles the landlord–tenant split-incentive dilemma that hinders renewable energy adoption, and develops policy frameworks for climate-adaptive rental properties.
The project is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Cambridge Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund 2025, and brings together the University of Cambridge, University of Nairobi, JKUAT, Kenyatta University and the Technical University of Kenya. Research leadership includes Prof. Minna Sunikka-Blank and Dr. Irit Katz (Cambridge), and Dr. Nkatha Gichuyia and Arch. Musau Kimeu (UoN).
Classification and mapping of physical urban rental housing typologies across Nairobi.
Tackling the landlord–tenant split-incentive dilemma limiting renewable energy adoption in rentals.
Engaging tenants and communities in participatory climate resilience planning.
Policy frameworks covering rent stabilisation and climate-adaptive building codes.
Strategies to empower tenants in climate adaptation decisions for their housing.
Engagement of research associates and graduate students across the five partner universities.
Urban Rental Housing and Climate Resilience Project
Kenyatta University
P.O. Box 43844 – 00100 GPO
Nairobi, Kenya
