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Kibera slums

Kibera (Nubian: Forest or Jungle) is a neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest of Nairobi's slums, and the second largest urban slum in Africa, with an estimated population of between 600,000 and 1.2 million inhabitants. The slum is located roughly 5 kilometers southwest of the city centre of Nairobi. Encompassing an area of 2.5 square kilometers, Kibera accounts for less than 1% of Nairobi's total area, but holds more than a quarter of its population, at an estimated density of 2000 persons per hectare. The neighborhood is divided into a number of villages, including Kianda, Soweto, Gatwekera, Kisumu Ndogo, Lindi, Laini Saba, Siranga/Undugu, Makina and Mashimoni click here to read more…
Kibera originated as a settlement in the forests outside Nairobi, when Nubian soldiers returning from service in the First World War were awarded with plots there in return for their efforts. The British colonial government of the time allowed the settlement to grow informally, primarily because of the Nubians' status as former servants of the British crown, which put the colonial regime in their debt. Furthermore the Nubians, being "Detribalized Natives" had no claim on land in "Native Reserves". Over time, other tribes moved into the area to rent land from the Nubian landlords.
After Kenya became independent in 1963, a number of forms of housing were made illegal by the government. The new ruling affected Kibera on the basis of land tenure, rendering it an unauthorized settlement. Despite this, people continued to live there, and by the early 1970s landlords were renting out their properties in Kibera to significantly greater numbers of tenants that was permitted by law. The tenants, who are highly impoverished, cannot afford to rent legal housing, finding the rates offered in Kibera to be comparatively affordable. The number of residents in Kibera has increased accordingly despite its unauthorized nature. By 1974, members of the Kikuyu tribe predominated the population of Kibera, and had gained control over administrative positions, which is kept through political patronage. Certain land owners are protected by the local government largely due to their Kikuyu ethnicity.
Presently, Kibera's residents represent all the major Kenyan ethnic background, with some areas being specifically dominated by peoples of one tribe. Many new residents come from rural areas with chronic underdevelopment and overpopulation issues. The multi-ethnic nature of Kibera's populism combined with the tribalism that pervades Kenyan politics has led to Kibera hosting a number of small ethnic conflicts throughout its century-long history. The Kenyan government owns all the land upon which Kibera stands, though it continues to not officially acknowledge the settlement; no basic services, schools, clinics, running water or lavatories are publicly provided, and what services do exist are privately owned.

 Slum upgrading

The ground in much of Kibera is composed of refuse and rubbish
Kibera is one of the most studied slums in Africa, not only because it sits in the centre of the modern city, but also because UN-HABITAT, the United Nations' agency for human settlements, is headquartered close by. Ban Ki-moon visited the settlement within a month of his selection as UN secretary-general.
Kibera, as one of the most pronounced slums within Kenya, is undergoing an intensive slum upgrading process. The government, UN-HABITAT and a contingent of NGOs, notably Maji na Ufanisi, are making inroads into the settlements in an attempt to facelift the housing and sanitary conditions.
There are three significant complicating factors to construction or upgrade within Kibera. The first is the rate of petty and serious crime. Building materials cannot be left unattended for long at any time because there is a very high chance of them being stolen. It is not uncommon for owners of storm-damaged dwellings to have to camp on top of the remnants of their homes until repairs can be made in order to protect the raw materials from would-be thieves.
The second is the lack of building foundations. The ground in much of Kibera is literally composed of refuse and rubbish. Dwellings are often constructed atop this unstable ground, and therefore many structures collapse whenever the slum experiences flooding, which it does regularly. This means that even well-constructed buildings are often damaged by the collapse of nearby poorly constructed ones.
The third complicating factor is the unyielding topography and cramped sprawl of the area. Few houses have vehicle access and many are at the bottom of steep inclines (which heightens the flooding risk). This means that any construction efforts are made more difficult and costly by the fact that all materials must be brought in by hand.

Clearance

The new apartments being built adjacent to Kibera
On 16 September 2009 the Kenyan government, which claims ownership of the land on which Kibera stands, began a long-term movement scheme which will rehouse the people who live in slums in Nairobi.The clearance of Kibera is expected to take between two and five years to complete. The entire project is planned to take nine years and will rehouse all 2 million slum residents in the city.The project has the backing of the United Nations and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is a local MP, and is expected to cost $1.2 billion. The new communities are planned to include schools, markets, playgrounds and other facilities. The first batch of around 1500 people to leave the slum were taken away by truck on 16 September 2009 from 6.30 am local time and were rehoused in 300 newly constructed apartments with a monthly rent of around $15.
The project start has been postponed several times as PM Odinga was unavailable to oversee the first day. He was joined on the first day by Housing Minister Soita Shitanda and his assistant Margaret Wanjiru with all three assisting residents with loading their belongings onto the trucks. Also present were several dozen armed police officers to oversee the arrangements and to deter any resistance.
The process has been legally challenged by more than 80 people and the Kenyan High Court has stated that the government cannot begin demolition works until the case is heard in October, but will be able to demolish the homes of people who leave voluntarily before then. The 80 plaintiffs are a mixture of middle-class landlords and Kibera residents and they claim that the land in Kibera is theirs and hence the government has no right to demolish the shacks. The Nubian community, who have lived on the land for nearly 100 years are also disappointed with the scheme and one elder has said that the present housing should be improved instead.
The project has also come under fire from urban planners who say that it risks repeating the mistakes of previous schemes - poor families either shared two-roomed apartments with one or two other families in order to pay the rent, or sub-let them to middle-class families and moved back into the slums. Workers earning a minimum wage in Kenya make less than US$2 per day.There is also controversy over the timings of the project with the first phase, rehousing 7,500 people, being delayed by five years and one government official stating that if the project continues at the current pace it will take 1,178 years to complete.

Geography and culture

The population density in the Kianda village in western Kibera
Kibera is located in southwest Nairobi, roughly 5 kilometers from the city centre. Much of its southern border is bounded by the Nairobi river and the Nairobi Dam, an artificial lake that provides drinking water to the residents of the city. It is estimated that between 600,000 and 1.2 million people live in Kibera,with a population density of 2000 residents per hectare. Kibera is divided into a number of villages, including Kianda, Soweto, Gatwekera, Kisumu Ndogo, Lindi, Laini Saba, Siranga/Undugu, Makina and Mashimoni.
The Uganda Railway Line passes through the center of the neighbourhood, providing passengers aboard the train a firsthand view of the slum. Kibera has a railway station, but most residents use buses and matatus to reach the city centre; carjacking, irresponsible driving, and poor traffic law enforcement are chronic issues.
Kibera is heavily polluted by human refuse, garbage, soot, dust, and other wastes. The slum is contaminated with human and animal feces, thanks to the open sewage system and the frequent use of "flying toilets". The lack of sanitation combined with poor nutrition among residents accounts for many illnesses and diseases. It is estimated that one-fifth of the 2.2 million Kenyans living with HIV live in Kibera.
Kibera is home to the popular Olympic Primary School, one of the leading government schools in the country. There is a community radio station, Pamoja FM.

References in popular culture

Kibera is featured in Fernando Meirelles's film The Constant Gardener, which is based on the book of the same name by John le Carré. It is also mentioned in the music video "World on Fire" by Sarah McLachlan, which profiled the work of Carolina for Kibera, a grassroots organization named a Hero of Global Health in 2005 by Time Magazine.
Robert Neuwirth devotes a chapter of his book Shadow Cities to Kibera and calls it a squatter community, predicting that places like Kibera, Sultanbeyli in Istanbul, Turkey, and Dharavi in Mumbai, India, are the prototypes of the cities of tomorrow. Among other things Neuwirth points out that such cities should be reconsidered as merely slums, as many locals were drawn to them while escaping far worse conditions in rural areas. Michael Holman's 2005 novel Last Orders at Harrods is based in a fictional version of the slum, called Kireba. Bill Bryson visited Africa for CARE and wrote a companion book called "Bill Bryson's African Diary" which includes a description of his visit to Kibera. Kibera is also the backdrop for the award-winning short film Kibera Kid which featured a cast entirely drawn from Kibera residents. The film has played in film festivals worldwide including the Berlin Film Festival and won a Student Emmy from Hollywood. In his documentary Living with Corruption Sorious Samura stayed with a family in Kibera to film the corruption that occurs even at the lowest levels of Kenyan society. Furthermore, Kibera is portrayed in the Austrian 2007 documentary Über Wasser: Menschen und gelbe Kanister.
The Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP) is a key core poverty Programme aimed at addressing the challenge of housing problems affecting the majority of the urban population who live in slums and informal settlements.  The Government and the UN-HABITAT entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 15th February 2003 to upgrade slums and informal settlements in Kenya starting with selected slums within the administrative boundaries of the Nairobi, Mavoko, Mombasa and Kisumu.
      
The Programme aims at improving the lives of people living and working in the slumsand informal settlements in all urban areas of Kenya and to contribute to poverty reduction and fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals, specifically Goal No 7 target 11- of improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020.
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
The implementation of the KENSUP broadly falls under three key institutions namely; the Government, Local Authorities; and United Nations Human Settlement Programme- UN-HABITAT. The Programme is coordinated through the following institutions:
Inter-Agency Steering Committee (IASC): IASC is the supreme Programme organ composed mainly of Accounting Officers of Key relevant Ministries, Local authorities, UN-HABITAT and Development Partners.  The IASC set for approval of policy decisions, giving policy direction and reporting to the Head of State as the patron to KENSUP.  This brings KENSUP to the centre of national decision-making and provides opportunity for fundraising. 
The ministries involved are:

• Housing
• Office of the President (Provincial Administration)
• Lands
• Local Government
• Roads and Public Works
• Finance and Planning
• Ministry of Trade and Industry
• Health
• Water and Irrigation
• Ministry of Information & Communication

The Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee (IACC): This is the intermediary organ between the KENSUP operatives and the IASC.  It provides a mechanism for coordinating all KENSUP related activities and monitoring of inputs in slum upgrading.  In itself IACC is a repository of skills and experience in various technical areas and policy.  In its establishment IACC also includes NGO/Civil society providing an opportunity to tap skills and experience of all other parties.
KENSUP Secretariat: Is the central operational level for coordination and tracking of the slum upgrading processes and the day-to-day running of the Programme.  It is the nucleus for coordination, building capacity for Local Authorities and local actors, and information management (sourcing, storing and dissemination of programme related information). The Secretariat is the link point of all KENSUP organs and therefore responsible for generation of briefs and reports for submission and for consideration in the higher organs.  Currently the secretariat comprises of a Programme Coordinator and 12 officers, six of who are seconded from other Government Ministries.
 
The Project Implementation Unit (PIU): These are established within Local Authorities to facilitate the formation of SPIU, co-ordinate the work of the SPIUs, assist in planning, design, and construction of required facilities, provide technical, logistical and resource support to SPIU.
The Settlements Project Implementation Units (SPIUs): Are the organs linking the Programme secretariat, PIU and the community. They are responsible for mobilizing actors and coordinating their activities at the settlement level. The SPIUs identify appropriate settlement stakeholders and grassroots organisations, their potentials and activities, in co-ordination with PIU and Programme Secretariat.
Settlement Executive Committee: Its main role is to act as a link between the Programme Implementation Unit and settlement community.  The SEC is expected to facilitate community networks, cooperatives, and resource mobilization processes such as savings and credit schemes among others.  It is the forum for advocacy for community rights and ideally ensures full community participation in decision-making.
Multi-Stakeholder Support Group (MSSG): This comprises of representatives of development partners, Civil Society, Government, Local Authorities, and Communities among others.  It is a broad setup for general Programme review and feed back that bring out experiences of various stakeholders to inform the Programme.  It is an ideal forum for fundraising and partnership participation.
Kenya Slum Upgrading, Low Cost Housing and Infrastructure Trust Fund (KSULCH&IT or KENSUF) - The establishment of slum upgrading fund is a key element in the memorandum of understanding between the Government and UN-HABITAT.  The fund is a central depository of all mobilized financial resources for slum upgrading.  It therefore draws funds from donors, CBOs, private sector and Government budgetary allocations.  The fund has the potential for pooling resources and institutionalization of transparent resource allocation mechanism.  It is to be run by a board composition that includes public, private, and key donor contributors.
           
PROGRAMME COMPONENTS
The Programme generally entails participatory planning and implementation of the following strategic components;

• Community mobilization, organisation and participation
• Preparation of City/Town development strategic and land use master plans
• Shelter improvement
• Provision of Physical and social infrastructure/amenities
• Environment and Solid waste management
• Employment / income generating activities
• Liaison with micro financing and credit systems
• HIV/AIDS concerns
• Conflict prevention and management
• Support to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups

KENSUP PROGRESS TO DATE
Progress made in KENSUP can be divided into the following categories:

• Inception Phase
• Pre-Implementation Phase
• Current KENSUP Status

The Inception Phase- In this phase the Programme was conceptualized, involving basic groundwork and formulating of Institutional framework for the Programme.  Activities in this phase included;

• A Nairobi Situation Analysis was produced as an informing tool to the general Slum Upgrading Process.
• Multi stakeholders consultative fora were held to develop a common understanding and upgrading approaches among the several stakeholders
• A criteria for identification of priority settlements for upgrading was developed out which Kibera Settlement was prioritized
• Production of KENSUP Programme Document and Kibera Soweto Project document
• A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and UN-HABITAT was developed and signed in 2003.
• The Institutional Framework to run the Programme was formulated that proposed establishment of various organizational Units necessary for implementation of the Programme.

Pre-Implementation Phase- The phase set the stage for the ground implementation of KENSUP in the identified sites.  The activities in this phase involved;

• The Establishment of Organizational Units in 2004 that include KENSUP Secretariat, at Ministry level, the Programme Implementations Unit (PIU),
• Settlement Programme Implementation Units (SPIU) and Settlement Executive Committees all under the City Council of Nairobi.
• An Actors Study was conducted in Kibera to establish the various stakeholders that will play a part in implementation
• Identification of land in both Nairobi and Mavoko has been done to serve various purposes of upgrading process.
• The Socio-Economic Mapping of Kibera has been underway and the consultants have just submitted the Report.
• The Physical Mapping of Kibera is on-going and detailed planning is expected by early 2006.
• The Decanting Site was identified and design works carried out.
• A KENSUP Implementation and Financial Strategy 2005-2020 has been formulated giving the road map to implementation process and also the financial implications
• of the Programme.  The Strategy will also be useful as a tool for mobilizing finance from various supporting partners.
• The Cabinet approved establishment of a Low Cost Housing and Infrastructure Trust Fund which will be a depository for monies mobilized for slum Upgrading. 
• The logistics of operationalising the Fund are at an advanced stage.
• Developed various guidelines to safeguard displacements of targeted communities like formation of Housing Cooperatives, relocation issues, tenure arrangements among others.
• The KENSUP Mavoko component has been progressing with community mobilization activities, and design of house types is in progress
• The Kisumu and Mombasa components – the Municipal Council are in process of putting information together for their prioritized proposed Projects.

CURRENT PROGRAMME STATUS
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
The Programme is currently in the implementation phase covering selected slums in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Mavoko.
Kibera Decanting Site Housing Scheme
In order to upgrade the Kibera slums,  it is necessary to relocate sections of the community (in phases) to a decanting site in order to free up way leaves for infrastructural services so that construction works in the main project area can progress smoothly.  The Langata decanting site was identified as a suitable holding ground for the residents who will have to be relocated.
The Site is located at Langata across the slum settlement adjacent to the Raila village.  It measures 2.00 Ha.  Construction of 17 blocks of 5 storey high flats totaling 600 three roomed self combined units is on going.  The works are expected to be completed by November 2007.
Kibera Slums Spine Road.
 A 4.26 km spine road and associated infrastructure are proposed to be constructed 
 parallel to the railway line, across Kibera.  The proposed physical infrastructure on the 
 spine road includes:

• Roads and walkways
• Storm water drainage
• Water reticulation
• Street and security lighting infrastructure
• Sewerage infrastructure
• Business stalls
• Bus stops
• Public toilets
• Environmental and solid waste management  

Project proposals regarding the spine road have been forwarded to the Chinese and Malaysian Governments for consideration for funding
Mavoko Sustainable Neighbourhood Programme (SNP)
Some 405 housing units will be developed in Mavoko/Athi River on a 21.64 Ha piece of land set aside for the sustainable Neighbourhood component under KENSUP.  This is a Government led project while another 21.64 Ha of land will be developed by UN-HABITAT under self Help Housing for slum residents of Mavoko. Construction works for the 405 units is in progress.  
Mombasa KENSUP Component
Mombasa Municipality is also earmarked for slum upgrading. Construction of critical social infrastructure comprising Boundary wall and 18 classrooms and a primary school, one Health centre, connecting road, water reticulation and street lighting at Ziwa-La-Ngombe Informal Settlement are planned.
Kisumu KENSUP Component
The component consists of construction of critical social infrastructure comprising classrooms, health centre early childhood development units, incinerator, rehabilitation of social hall and market centres, upgrading of roads with associated external works in slum settlements in Kisumu.
Formation of Housing Cooperatives at Kibera and Mavoko
KENSUP envisages use of housing cooperatives as the means by which community funds will be mobilized, define ownership and general tenure arrangements.  The formation of cooperatives in both Mavoko and Kibera, by the Ministry of Cooperative Development and Management is already in progress. 5No. housing cooperatives have been formed and registered in Mavoko and 4 No. in Soweto, Kibera.  
Capacity building and Communication Strategy
Sida Kenya is currently supporting KENSUP in both capacity Building and communication for the institutions under the Programme. Capacity needs and communication gaps have been identified and are currently under implementation.  
Kenya Slum Upgrading, Low Cost Housing and Infrastructure Fund (KENSUF)
The establishment of slum upgrading fund is a key element in the memorandum of understanding between the Government and UN-HABITAT. The fund has been established as a central depository of all mobilized financial resources for slum upgrading – these include funds from donors, CBOs, private sector and Government budgetary allocations. The regulations governing the fund were gazetted in December 2006.A bank account for the Fund has been opened at Cooperative Bank and the Minister for Housing is in the process of appointing a Board of trustees drawn from                               public,   private, NGO/CBO and key donor organisations for management purposes.
Investment and resource Mobilization Conference 
A National Stakeholders conference on slum upgrading, low cost housing and resource mobilization was held on April 11 2007 at the Kenyatta international conference centre. The objectives of the conference were:

1. To facilitate sharing of information amongst stakeholders in various aspects of upgrading of slums and informal settlements.
2. To enhance coordination of stakeholders under KENSUP in order to facilitate synergy in programme implementation and the realization of stakeholder goals. 
3. To elicit the commitment of stakeholders to support the Kenya Slum Upgrading Strategy (KENSUP)

Other KENSUP Issues
As a nuclear to coordinate all slum upgrading activities, KENSUP is also working in close liaison stakeholders especially Local Authorities and civil society. Currently, the following are active areas/projects:

•  WATSAN – UN-HABITAT initiative in water, sanitation and solid waste management.
• Umande Trust – Water and sanitation for the urban poor, WSUP, Kibera.
• Safer Nairobi initiative – A play ground leveling project by Undugu Society.
• Kariobangi Social Welfare housing project
• Thika Municipality -  Kianduttu Informal Settlement

 
Access road
The Ministry of Housing, has undertaken to construct a 12m access road through Kibera informal settlement starting with Soweto East Village. The 1.25km road will follow the existing track commencing at the footbridge off Mbagathi way and running through the settlement to Kibera Drive. In this financial year 2007/08 the Ministry will construct the first 500m of the road, commencing at Mbagathi way. The construction will comprise:

• 6m wide carriageway
• 2m wide footpath on each side
• 1m wide drains on both sides- between the carriageway and the footpath
• Street lighting