Implications of Informal Urban Land Use Patterns on the Provision of Water and Sanitation Infrastracture– a Case Study of Obunga Informal Settlement, Kisumu County- Kenya

Abstract

The challenge of water and sanitation infrastructure supply in informal settlements is a global phenomenon but more so in developing countries and needs to be addressed. Despite slums accommodating more than half of the urban residents, most of them do not have this basic infrastructure. Some studies have attributed this to the characteristics of informal settlements such as narrow roads, high population and high housing density, tenure insecurity; hazardous locations and sub- standard housing. However, this is on the global scale and cannot be treated as conclusive in Obunga informal settlement unless place – specific assessment is carried out. The prevailing question therefore, is to find out whether the spatial patterns in Obunga can be used to explain ineffective provision of water and sanitation infrastructure. The study adopted a mixed method approach employing both cluster sampling and systematic sampling targeting all the 3,046 households in the study area in collecting field data. The study found out that, high housing density; high population density, narrow roads and sub- standard housing such as wall materials are some of the hindrances to the provision Water and Sanitat WASH. For example high housing density was a hindrance in the provision of onsite WASH facilities. However, despite tenure insecurity being a hindrance in other informal settlements, this was not the case in Obunga because land tenure was mainly freehold. To address the issues of water and sanitation provision within the settlement, the study therefore proposes widening of the narrow roads within the settlement, provision of drainage and water facilities within the settlement, enforcement of affordable housing scheme to curb the high housing density within the settlement among other recommendations. As well, the study encourages economic empowerment of the residents to ensure the sustainability of the proposals. However, this might require a budget to compensate those who lose land during the reconstruction of WASH infrastructure