Urban Resident's Associations and the Management of Services in Nairobi: A Study of the Karen and Langata District Association (KLDA)

Abstract

This study examines the role of residents associations m service provtsion and management, using Karen and Langata District Association (KLDA) as a case study. This is done by searching into the operations of KLDA to establish the governance structure, member's participation, service provision strategies and the relationship between KLDA and the Nairobi City Council (NCC). Evaluation of KLDA was done by getting the views of KLDA management team. Further information on KLDA was provided by the members of the association in order to assess their level of satisfaction with -the service provision in the area. Leaders of other associations namely, Nairobi Central Business District Association (NCBDA), Buruburu Residents Welfare Association, Dandora Residents Association, Kenya Alliance of Residents Association (KARA), We Care About Nairobi Do It (We Can Do It), Makina Umoja Usafi na Maendeleo (MUUM), Lindi Umoja Usafi na Maendeleo (LUUM), Ushirika wa Usafi Laini Saba (UULS) as well as NCC officials were also interviewed to complement the case study. The findings show that residents associations playa central role in service provision to residents and urban policy redirection is nee~ed to incorporate !~ese'as~ociations in urban governance, essentially decision making related to service provision. Associations hold democratic elections to choose leaders who are accountable to the members, allow members participation in management of the.affairs of associations and provide a channel through which residents benefit from assistance provided by the state and non state actors. However, conflict and lack of coordination exists between associations and the state actors as reflected in the case ofKLDA.