Perhaps the biggest problem facing the urban developing world is the informal settlements, or slums. In Kenya,
the issue is very pronounced - some 70% of the total urban population live in informal settlements. This study,
using the town of Voi as an example, looks for the factors that contribute to the squatter problem, the
government policies of urban planning and slum upgrading behind it, and the historical background as well as
the current situation with the specific problems that the informal settlements of Voi are encountering. The issue
of land ownership is addressed, and practical examples of different ways to approach security of tenure in the
case of Voi are given.