Informal settlements control

An Informal Settlement exists where housing has been created in an Urban or Peri-urban location without official approval. These settlements are generally characterized by inadequate infrastructure such as roads, water, sewerage systems, electricity, poor access to basic services, unsuitable environments, uncontrolled and unhealthy population densities, inadequate dwellings, poor access to health and education facilities and lack of effective administration.

In Kenya most of the informal settlements are concentrated in areas around industries or previous constructions site camps and in riparian areas and around any established housing estate development that is dependent on massive cheap non resident labour.

In the past few years, the Government of Kenya, through Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Programme, have embarked on rigorous infrastructure improvement in informal settlements among other upgrade components across major urban areas in the county. The projects have improved the dignity of the people in areas of accessibility, water and sanitation services and security through flood lighting. These projects have seen great impact for the lowly people in way of improved health, security and improved business environment with flood lighting making late business hours possible in neighborhoods which are largely characterized by evening and late night road side food vending and eateries.

The "kadogo" economy in the informal settlements which is a refuge for many casual labourers and starters in life and mostly home for those who have recently migrated from rural areas in search for livelihood in the city, is booming in all upgraded informal settlements.

Even though children might not have sufficient play space due to congestion, I have witnessed so much joy in these settlements after improved basic services. These people love each other and appreciate value of life. Wait until you wander into the informal settlement and see how easy it is for them to mark a stranger or intruder especially if your body language shows you might be up to some harm or activities that might interrupt their lives and livelihoods.

I appreciate that the government has initiated components that help in streamlining land ownership. However, focus should quickly shift to housing improvement. The improved infrastructure witnessed across the country in urban towns where KISIP have carried out the projects do not match the housing standards.

Since the informal settlements are being planned better and land ownership being formalized, the informal settlements will no longer be "informal settlements" again. The new owners should therefore be compelled or assisted through low cost loans to put up decent low cost housing. The other option is for interested investors to move in and develop the housing schemes on the new plans under cheap mortgage arrangements or the government should move in and develop the housing scheme at subsidized rates.

There is however need to control further mushrooming of informal settlements in Kenya. I am sure the investment the government is putting is meant to correct a mistake and not by design. If that is the case, then the relevant government departments should move swiftly and bar further establishment of informal settlements. The government may adopt a city entry registry which focuses on settling the new arrivals. Again students settling after college graduation need to be provided with a low cost housing option under the same registry to help them settle down in decent housing as they look for jobs. Companies or industries and housing estates that rely heavily on manual and semi-skilled labour should also provide housing in the employment package without exploiting the workers.

The over dependency of graduates and youth in search for employment that further worsens the infiltration of the informal settlements we are trying to eradicate will effectively be controlled when every Kenyan is supported to have own housing or shared housing address whether they have relatives in the city or not. I am not discouraging the improvement of the social fabric among relations. But I am aware of the burden families face in trying to accommodate relatives who are fresh from school, new arrivals in the city and those transitioning from one employment to another.

I request the excellently performing ministry of transport, infrastructure, housing and urban development to consider these proposals and if possible prioritize the acceptable ones.