Difficulties experienced in the planning of transportation facilities in unplanned settlements.

Abstract

The development of transportation infrastructure in unplanned settlements is a major prerequisite to both economic growth and poverty alleviation. This is largely so because they promote livable environments and contribute to the reduction of adverse external effects and production costs. Transportation planning within Kibera Settlements is concerned with the design of transportation systems that will maximise accessibility for essential movements between linked activities, giving due consideration to safety, comfort, amenity, economy and hygiene. Given the many roles that such transportation systems play in the congested and unhygienic settlements, proper planning of these transportation systems will enable the households in the settlements better access to there daily livelihoods and promote service delivery. In the long run, the improvement of the transportation systems in the Kibera slum settlements will indirectly lead to improved housing conditions, minimising the frequent fire hazard costs and other related environmental losses. There is also an element of gender and human rights, as the poor and often neglected majority urban residents will receive some attention. This paper highlights some difficulties experienced in planning of transportation facilities in Kibera. In addition it makes some proposals on how to overcome some of the difficulties experienced