Keywords: Governance, Urban Development, Nairobi, Kenya, Policy, Housing,
Slums, Transport, Informal Sector, Matatu, Urban Poor, Living Standards, Nairobi City Council, Nairobi City Commision, Local Government, Mismanagement.

Abstract:  This is the background report of the World Report on the Urban
Future 21. It provides a history of the growth and development of Nairobi.
It outlines the  development of institutional structures which govern the city.
Diagrams illustrating the institutional hyerarchy are included. Through the use
of case stuides it analyses the governance crisis pleging sectors of the city
government. Verious sectors are considered including; local government,
transportantion, the informal sector, housing and food, urban argiculture.