UN warns Kenyan slums growing at high rate

By John Oywa

Kenya is among the countries with the highest number of slums in the world. Its slums are rated by Unicef and UNDP as dwellings that pose extreme hardship to residents.

It is estimated that 70 per cent of urban dwellers in Kenya live in slums and the number is growing according to United Nations human settlement body, Habitat.

Worldwide, one billion people live in slums and the figure will likely grow to two billion by 2030.

Nairobi alone has 160 slums, according to the latest Slum Inventory prepared by a non governmental organisation- Pamoja Trust Kenya.

Out of Nairobi’s estimated population of four million people, 55 per cent live in slums, according to the Africa Medical Research Foundation (Amref).

All of Nairobi’s eight constituencies have slums with Kasarani leading with 31 slums, which include the sprawling Mathare. Dagoretti follows with 28 slums, Starehe with 22 and Makadara 18.

Langata constituency, home to Kenya’s largest slum, Kibera, has 17 informal settlements. Kibera alone is divided into 10 other smaller slum villages. Kibera is believed to be the largest slum in Africa and among the largest in the World.

Embakasi, which is home to the Mukuru slums, has 13 slums.

Kamukunji has 11 slums while Westlands has 10.

The Government recently launched the Slum Upgrading Project targeting selected slums in the country. In Nairobi, only Kibera has so far benefited.

Reports from the Ministry of Health say slum residents suffer water-borne diseases due to poor sanitation.