Diverse Informality :

Chapter 5
The Transformation of Buruburu
Kiiru Caleb Kamenju
B02/81022/2017
Group III
Buruburu’s development can be traced back to 1962 and the area was allocated for as land for future
residential and commercial development.
It was also to include a large extent of farmland previously known as the Donholm Farm. Over the
year it was redeveloped into a residential area ergo the Donholm estate.
Buruburu is located 7 Km east of Nairobi CBD.
In the area the potential home owners were not consulted for their views on their dwelling
preferences, the houses were commissioned and constructed based on the architects’ views.
The developers generated several plans starting with a 3 – room single storey to 5 – room double
storey house.
The development of the estate happened in five phases, phase one completed in 1973, phase two in
1974/75, phase three 1978, phase four 1980 and phase five 1983.
Phase One and Two of the development was done with no setbacks and buildings occupied the full
plot. Phase Four and Five buildings were done after incorporation of a 9 meter setback line.
It is after addition of this setback zone that most of the transformation around Buruburu has
happened. The plot sizes are roughly 6m x (20-24)m with pieces next to the road being bigger.
Fig 01. Image Showing Phase One and Two showing no setbacks Fig 02. Image Showing Phase Four and Five with the 9m setback included
The planning parameters in play for residential houses was such as:
• 260 persons per hectare
• 75% Plot Ratio
• 35% Ground Coverage
• One car park per plot and ½ a car park off plot
• The maximum height was G + 1
The planning parameters for commercial plots were:
• 200% Plot Ratio
• 80% Ground Coverage
• Maximum height was also G + 1
The ground coverage in 2003 for residential houses was revised to 50% from 35%
Urban Edge Definition:
The urban edge varies between Phase 1 & 2 and Phase 4 & 5 due to the setback issue. Entrance into
the development was through courtyards which had an introverted nature. Over years these courtyard
designs were re-developed into small gated communities or courts.
For Phase 1 & 2 there was no setback so the building wall acted as the building edge. For Phase 4 &
5 it allowed for a 9 meter setback whose spatial edge would be defined by a fence either stone or
masonry.

Fig 03. Image Showing The spatial edge in

buildings with a setback and without
Informalizing the formal:
Mumias South Road is the main circulation through Buruburu and it was meant to have commercial
facilities and community amenities.
However, only a few shops and a single restaurant were built. There was also provision of a cultural
centre, markets and a library which during implementation were not done.
Land for the social amenities was subjected to subdivision and sold to people and the open spaces
planned were also divided further to cater for the demanding housing needs.
More than 50% of all buildings along the corridor have undergone transformations in four distinctive
ways:
• Commercial Transformations
• Residential Transformations
• Residential cum Commercial Transformations
• Transformation of the Shopping Centre
I. Commercial Transformations
Commercial transformations happen in two distinct ways :
• Transformations that have changed the development partly or wholly an example would be the plot below, the
original residential house is intact and a new structure fronting the road has been added to house shopping
facilities with a top floor balcony that opens into the street
In terms of the built fabric of the new structure materiality is similar, however, there is a strain on lighting as the
structure hinders natural lighting into the old structure. It also affects sewer systems, water supply and power
supply capacity.

Fig 04. Map Showing Old layout of the plot Fig 04. Map Showing New Layout with an added new structure
I. Commercial Transformations
• The second way was through the complete change of use of the initial unit in terms of the internal
layout and use. However, due to change in functionality issues creep up such as: No natural
lighting due to constrained floor plan arrangement, Window openings added which open up into
adjacent plots, change in the ground coverage that is way beyond the law, land grabbing into the
setbacks and pressure on power and water supply units.
Majority of the houses on new transformations are not on contract basis but rather informal basis i.e.,
handshake agreements.
Fig 07. Image Showing House transformed to a dental clinic Fig 08. Image Showing House transformed to drycleaners
II. Residential Transformations
Residential transformations take place due to two main issues, Family dynamics and economic
demands.
An example of family dynamics are such as once an boy joins manhood and becomes an adult
culturally he is not allowed to stay in the same house as the parents. They therefore extend the house
to add a new unit which serves in the same capacity as a servant quarters.
In terms of Economic demands, in the case of Covid period most families would extend their house
to add lettable units that would meet their economic demands of the time.
III. Residential cum Commercial Transformations
These transformations are mainly prompted by the commercial needs of creating small enterprise
outlets and lettable small apartments.
It is mainly done on plots near junctions and those with ‘market potential’.
The transformations take the form of double storey structure being converted into Mixed Use
typologies where the ground floor is let out and the first floor being residential.

Fig 11. Image Showing M.U.D typologies along a junction Fig 12. Image Showing M.U.D typologies on a common streetscape
 IV. Transformation of the Shopping Centre
The initial design proposal for Buruburu was to have about 20 double storey shop buildings and 2
restaurants however, on implementation only 11 shops and 1 restaurant were erected.
Currently informal settlements have filled that designated area and a large market was also
developed. All of this were unplanned for and distort the urban edge.

Fig 13. Image Showing informal settlements that have creeped up.
THE END