Rethinking Community-Led Development: A Comparative Dialogue from Mukuru Informal Settlements

Abstract

Community-led development (CLD) has become increasingly important as external aid declines and local capacity becomes central to development practice. Yet limited research compares how different stakeholders understand CLD or how dialogue reshapes these perceptions. This mixed-methods study examines CLD in Nairobi, Kenya, using pre- and post-dialogue surveys with 47 participants (N = 47), including Master’s students from the University of Nairobi and American University, and residents of the Mukuru informal settlement engaged in community initiatives. The study also draws on interviews with residents, development professionals, and government officials. Survey findings show broad support for CLD while identifying funding abuse, gatekeeping (Bashir, 2021), land tenure insecurity, and weak trust in state programs as key barriers. Interview analysis revealed six themes: land tenure and governance, infrastructure and housing, environmental risk, government trust, citizenship and legal identity, and community vision. Structured dialogue challenges assumptions and aligns development practice more closely with community realities.