Assessment of the Opportunities and Challenges of Infrastructure Development and Service Delivery in Kianda Kibera Slums, Nairobi
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Date
2008
Authors
Elijah, Lillian Mwikali
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Despite the increasing slum population, the problem of infrastructure and service delivery
remains largely unresolved in Kianda village, Kibera shims. This has led to increased
human and environmental health risks. This research therefore sought to assess the
opportunities and challenges of infrastructure development, basic service delivery and
aesthetic enhancement in Kianda, focussing on several variables namely: housing,
education, energy, playgrounds and roads, water, sanitation and waste management and
health care facilities. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using
questionnaires, Interview schedules, Focused Group Discussions, field checklists and
content analysis of secondary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for
data analysis. Pearson correlation coefficient was used in determining the emerging
relationships between selected key variables. Results obtained showed that while
households desired improved infrastructural development and service provision, they had
poor housing structures, inadequate health care, education and water facilities, poor
communication networks, low quality energy sources and inappropriate waste
management systems. As a result, there were low levels of education attainment and high
rates of school dropouts, water, air and soil pollution and consequently the impact of
water borne diseases. Barriers to improved service delivery included poverty and lack of
negotiating skills, poor slum policies and absentee landlords, corruption and unresponsive
governing authorities. Households were noted to engage in survival mechanisms
hazardous to human health such as disposing wastewater directly outside their houses
(83%) and use of flying toilets (8%). Household practises hazardous to the environment
included among others use of firewood and charcoal for cooking (81%), disposing
wastewater in channels draining into Mutoine River (83%), and use of flying toilets (8%).
Educated households engaged less in hazardous practises than in uneducated households.
Likewise, higher income households engaged more in less hazardous practises than lower
income households particularly the use of own latrines and ablution blocks, Both local
and international organizations were providing several services in Kianda in the absence
of the City Council, though none was involved in road network provision. There were
few health care facilities in Kianda mostly private clinics. This, compounded with risk
factors like unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene had contributed to the burden of
water borne diseases. Reported cases of ill health included Malaria (39%), Typhoid
(26%) and diarrhoea (35%). There fore, for service provision to improve in Kianda,
awareness on the dangers of the households' survival mechanisms must be created. This
had greatly been caused by the high poverty levels in the slum, which urgently calls for
more focused urban poverty reduction policies. There is also the undisputed need to
actualise tenure rights in the slum so as to give the households an incentive to negotiate
for services from concerned urban authorities. A participatory slum-upgrading
programme should also be emphasized, given the inclination of the global world towards
participatory development.
Description
Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the award of the degree of Master of Environmental Studies and Community Development in the School of Environmental Studies and Human Sciences of Kenyatta University, 2008