The Millenium Development Goals Report 2012 launched recently indicated that the number of people living in the informal settlement has reduced steadily.

The UN report notes that the number of urban residents in the developing countries living in the informal settlement has reduced significantly over the past 12 years. The numbers have reduced from 39 per cent in 2000 to 33 per cent in 2012.

Improved sanitation has also been noted with about 200 million people said to have had access to better sanitation facilities, water as well as reduced overcrowding.

These might just be some of the reasons that Kiambiu residents feel that moving out of the area may just be a tall order. The government is making headway in providing housing for the people residing in the informal settlement areas, with Kibera being first in line of the slum upgrading project.

The demand for housing in the cities is rising as more people flock them in search for employment and other social amenities. Currently in demand are over 200,000 housing units annually. The recent relocation of some residents of Kibera to better housing in the slum upgrading project was seen as a step forward as the government embarked on a mission to eradicate slums in the country with other cities like Mombasa and Kisumu being next in line.

Many see it as a good project turned bad as some of the residents are said to have either rented the houses to other people or sold them altogether. With a requirement to only pay Sh. 1,000 which would be divided as Sh. 500 for rent, Sh. 300 for electricity and Sh. 200 for water, many of the tenants still chose to return to Kibera, for reasons only they know better.

Recently, I had  chat with some residents of Kiambiu – an informal settlement area in Nairobi – on why they think the resident of Kibera went back to slums and what they would do if push comes to shove and the government put them on notice to move out of Kiambiu.

They stated that they were vitally comfortable in their humble abodes and that removing them would definitely be a tall order. They stated that there are fundamental issues that have not been well thought out by the government, and it was thus akin to flogging dead horses if they continue implementing policies that are not people-friendly.

 

“Why should I leave my humble abode in Kiambiu to go and live in the nice houses that the government is constructing for people living in informal settlement areas? The fact that most of the times the government doesn’t deem it fit to talk to us or even consult before implementing some of their policies is the reason why it is a difficult venture for the slum dwellers to move out. They treat us like we do not exist or do not even have a say on anything yet the policies are meant for us,” stated one resident.

 

 

“We have learnt to survive here and that is what they should put in mind. We are able to eke out a living in the slums by doing menial jobs here and there. If and when I move to the nice houses, where will I get work to do?  The government hasn’t thought of building industries or thinking through about the levels of unemployment and how moving s there will affect our daily bread. In the informal settlement areas we can buy and sell products cheaply. Life is affordable. You can get cooking fat for Sh.10 you can eat a good meal with just Sh.50.They forget that we are now white collared personnel, what do we eat when we live in those houses?” posed Mr. Indusa.

 

“When they build those houses they forget the sense of community that we are used to here. For instance when I want to go and look for some form of employment, I will find it very easy to leave my child behind with a neighbour and he/she will be safe. In those nice houses, I am not sure I would be able to do that as I feel that the sense of community in those flats is not there. Raising up a child communally is also import and I think that that kind of responsibility will be thrown out of the window with everyone for himself, and God for us all,” added Mr. Indusa.

However, the he UN report compiled  by the UN department of Economic and Social Affairs notes that the achievements so far seen have surpassed their expectations that had targeted to improve the lives of 100 million residents in the informal settlement areas as over 200 million have benefited.

 

Mr. Kenneth Ambani, a resident of Kiambiu stated that despite the many challenges that abound in Kiambiu like the lack of sufficient water, poor drainage systems and others, he says that they still lead vitally normal lives and since they have stayed there for a long time and have made acquaintances, they are very comfortable.

The Kiambiu residents have a group that started as a small merry-go-round meeting but currently own plots –estates –  in the area as a result of sheer hard work and dedication which enabled them to invest in the housing. They stated that they have not been able to get proper title deeds for the land they acquired but are hopeful that they will get them soon. They only have allotment letters. This however, means that they can only construct temporary mabati houses- houses made from iron sheets- as they do not have a go-ahead to construct the permanent ones.

“The councillor told us that Kiambiu is one of the areas ear marked for development and that we may soon be moved out. We feel that he may be playing politics as other places in Kiambiu have permanent housing yet they are just our neighbours here,” stated Mr. Ambani

“Life here is cheaper compared to other areas and thus it would be difficult to tell someone to move to a better house where they may not be able to afford the basic amenities. We have several kiosks – small shops – here that sell to us products that that are pocket friendly. I am certain that kiosks will not be allowed near the nice houses that the government is working on. Unemployment among the youth is the biggest challenge. If you move people and give them some form of employment that is sustainable, I am sure that might make matters easier. They definitely need to engage the residents of the informal settlement areas in order to create solutions and not just mere beautiful housing,” he added.

Even with those concerns raised, the report still indicates that the livelihoods of the slum residents are better now than it was 12 years back. The fact that there are more children going to school is a plus in ensuring the success in achieving the Millenium Development Goals.

The report indicates that there are more children enrolling in school and more so the girls. In 1999, there were 91 girls per 100 boys enrolled in primary school and in 2010; the number had risen to 97 girls per 100 boys.

Many other gains in the Sub-Saharan region that includes; the high number of people who have accessed the Anti-Retro-Virals with over 6 million people in the developing countries said to have accessed them in 2010.

However, with only 3 years before the Millenium Development Goals are reviewed, a lot still needs to be done to meet even half of the goals by 2015.

 

By: Fiona Imbali, OAIC Communications

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