More people are moving to cities and slums are growing. Traditional government planning practices cannot solve the problems of slums. A Kenyan project shows how government, business and the community can successfully work together to upgrade slums and enable inhabitants to take part in the decisions that affect their lives.

Kitale Town in Kenya has grown so fast that there are not enough houses, services and jobs for local people, according to a project set up by the international non-governmental organisation Practical Action (formerly Intermediate Technology Development Group – ITDG). As a result, two-thirds of the town’s residents live in slums, with high levels of waterborne disease, unemployment and crime. At the same time, most small businesses and home business are based in slums. Slums are therefore important for creating jobs, and for local and national economic development.

But infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water supply and toilets are vital to improving living conditions and creating jobs for slum dwellers. A lack of infrastructure makes businesses less productive and stops new businesses from becoming established. Infrastructure is not only important for people’s health and well-being. Building and maintaining roads and toilets, for example, also create jobs.

The project tried to improve the effectiveness of city and municipal planning and management in upgrading the slums. The results show that:

• slum communities can play a major role in building, operating and maintaining basic infrastructure such as water and sanitation services, and footpaths/footbridges
• women and young people, who are among the poorest inhabitants, can find work in building and maintenance projects
• the connection with the Assocation of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK) allows the project’s experience and knowledge to be shared among local authorities all over the country
• the focus on local economic development helps local institutions and civil society work together and makes local governments more accountable. 

The project shows how urban planning that involves local people and partnerships between community groups, private enterprise, international non-governmental organisations and the state can deal with the problems of slums. However, good urban governance is important for the success of such complex projects.

National governments should include the upgrading of slums in their development plans. Municipal governments should develop regulations to ensure that the upgrading of slums involves local people, creates jobs and develops the local economy. In order to create the maximum number of jobs and promote decent work, local authorities, civil society and the private sector need to work together.

They should also:

• work in a way that employs many people, uses local resources and uses labour rather than technology, including local artisans, small contractors, light equipment, local finance and local creativity
• develop suitable designs, ways of working and training to make good use of labour-based methods
• focus on finding work for disadvantaged groups such as women and young people
• extend links with ALGAK so that more municipal governments can learn from the Kitale experience.

Source(s):
‘Employment creation through participatory urban planning and slum upgrading: The case of Kitale, Kenya’ Habitat International Vol. 32, No. 2, pages 270-282, by Michael Majale, 2008

Funded by: Department for International Development, UK

id21 Research Highlight: 19 August 2008

Further Information:
Michael Majale
139 Kenton Lane
Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE3 3QB
UK

Tel: +44 (0)191 2420027
Contact the contributor: m.m.majale@ncl.ac.uk

Paul Chege
Practical Action in Eastern Africa
P.O. Box 39493 – 00623
Nairobi
Kenya

Tel: 254 20 2713 540; +254 722 509 244
Fax: +254 20 2710083
Contact the contributor: Paul.chege@practicalaction.or.ke

Practical Action in Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

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'Cities without slums: knowledge-sharing needed urgently'

'Can squatters be developers?'

'Addressing the challenge of slums'