Vulnerability of Kibera Slum Dwellers to Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters

Abstract

Vulnerability to disasters in Kibera slum has risen because of poor urban governance in respect of planning and managing the affairs of the Nairobi city, which is a major driving factor of urban poverty and vulnerability to disasters. The slum is characterized by overcrowding, marginalization, harmful environmental exposure, poverty, insecurity, and lack of access to amenities - all features that have led to decreased sustainability and increased vulnerability. The main objectives of this study were to identify and quantify vulnerability to natural and manmade disasters, analyze the relationship between household/individual level vulnerability and environmental (community) and, propose strategies and actions to build a safer resilient society in Kibera. This was done through survey and assessment of published literature including international journals, government's reports and, international agency reports. Vulnerability indicators were classified according to household/individual level and environmental exposure to identify and quantify disasters. Analysis of the relationship between household/individual level vulnerability and environmental community was base~ on the selected vulnerability/exposure indices, through review of literature ~~tfng to urban slums ill Kenya and was done using vulnerability/exposure 6x6 pairwise matrix. Proposed strategies and actions to build a safer and resilient society in Kibera were based on a conceptual frame work, which was formulated by past literature about and/or related to the study area. The vulnerability based on assessment sh~wed the cumulative vuinerability index of household and environmental levels are ranked in. the category "high". This underlies the need for immediate attention to reduce the vulnerability of the Kibera slum residents to natural and anthropogenic disasters. Therefore there is need to strengthen health services, improve waste management, water quality, good urban governance and target to archive sustainable urban livelihoods.