Factors influencing the implementation of Kenya Slums Upgrading Programme: a case of Kibera Slums in Nairobi County

Abstract

There is growing global concern about slums, as manifested in the recent United Nations Millennium Declaration and subsequent identification of new development priorities by the international community. In light ofthe increasing numbers of urban slum dwellers, governments have recently adopted a specific target on slums, i.e. Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 11, which aims to significantly improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020. This study investigated factors influencing implementation of the slums upgrading programmes with specific reference to the Kenya slums upgrading programme in Kibera slums. The Kenyan government's conceptualization of slum upgrading inserts benefits into a highly distorted market, preventing a balanced realization of the internationally recognized elements of the right to housing, and raising fears of displacement among slum residents.

The study established factors influencing slums upgrading programmes along the following objectives; - The influence of urbanization towards implementation of the Kibera slums upgrading programme; the influence of environmental factors on the Kibera slums upgrading programme ; the influence of cost of slums upgrading programmes on the Kibera slums upgrading programme; the influence of community participation in the Kibera slums upgrading programme; the extent to which security of land tenure contributes to the implementation of Kibera slums upgrading programme the findings of in this report indicate that there is high rural urban migration and over population in slum areas leading to overcrowding of houses.

This spill over has been experienced in the new project where houses meant for one family is shared by more than three households while others are occupied by tenants from upmarket estates. Slum culture and social spatial economic factors complicate slums upgrading programmes and raise the costs of upgrading. Majority of slum dwellers are petty traders and rely on small business enterprises to raise income. The slum upgrading programme as conceptualised does not recognise the need to alongside create markets and business centres. This has led to slum dwellers making makeshift structures to accommodate their trades distorting the upgrading process. Community participation in the slums upgrading programmes is low despite the immense benefits the majority of the slums dwellers attribute to the programme.

Awareness campaigns targeting beneficiaries is low and structures created for the participation of the community are not responsive. Community members are not adequately involved in the design, planning and implementation of the project. Successful community involvement requires support from the public sector such as provision of training, credit and technical assistance. The current strategy for human centred development for low-income communities does not follow the approach of public participation.

Security of land tenure is not guaranteed and could impede the improvement of the slums to be better places where slum dwellers can enjoy their rights to good housing conditions. This was evident by the fact that there are already legal cases in court contesting on how the upgrading programme is being carried out. Environmental factors impeded on the slums upgrading programme by raising the cost of the upgrading. Kibera is limited from expanding to the south and east by the Ngong River and Nairobi Dam, and to the north and west by the rail line to Kisumu. The terrain is hilly and sometimes steep, which can complicate the building process. Residential structures encroach on the riparian areas of the river. Residential and commercial dumping of solid waste, human waste, medical waste, and waste water cause perpetual degradation of the environment and water quality