lesson 2 - 21st century urban slums

Question 1

what is Kibera and where is it situated?

Answer 1

it is the largest slum in Nairobi, Africa

Question 2

economically, what does Kibera depend on and percentage of its employment is primary sector?

Answer 2

• Kibera depends on prime agricultural land

- 80% of its population is primary sector

Question 3

currently, what are 4 social problems in Kibera?

Answer 3

1) institutions take money out (corruption)
2) education not free -> patchy and discontinuous
3) highest paid jobs carry extreme danger (prostitution/ cleaning toilets
4) 90% people don’t own their land

Question 4

currently, what are 5 economic problems in Kibera?

Answer 4

1) informal jobs
2) 80% jobs are primary sector
3) low paid
4) relies on commodities (eg flowers / crops)
5) rent, water, charcoal supplies = relatively expensive

Question 5

currently, explain how urban air pollution is an environmental issue?

Answer 5

• burning charcoal and gas leads to indoor air pollution (1 death every 20 seconds)
• CO2 pollution is x150 above WHO (world health organisation) standards

Question 6

currently, explain how waste/ sewage disposal is an environmental issue?

Answer 6

• large volumes of raw waste
• poses health risk as it is dealt with informally or not at all
• flying toilets (ineffective)
• leads to water pollution -> health risk (typhoid and cholera)

Question 7

how have Kibera dealt with waste disposal? advantages?

Answer 7

human waste is turned into biogas.
there are now 22 bio centres, where anaerobic digestion occurs.

+ cheaper than burning charcoal
+ does not depend on season

Question 8

how have Kibera dealt with sewage disposal?

Answer 8

• flying toilets replaced by peepoo bags
  (biodegradable)
• the UN built sanitation blocks
  (coffee shop / internet cafe / water treatment)
• slum clearance project
• piped water

Question 9

what are physical reasons for 21st century slums?

Answer 9

• no space to develop
• the ‘Uganda railway’ line runs through
• topography (many steep slopes -> floods valley floor)

Question 10

what are political reasons for 21st century slums?

Answer 10

• clearance costs are $1.2bn -> legal challenge because of middle class landlords
• Kibera residents distrusts the government due to the 5-9yr delay
• poor governance by leadership of Prime Minister

Question 11

what are economic reasons for 21st century slums?

Answer 11

• cost of development is $1.2bn
• middle-class landlords exploit land (people do not own)
• average income is £1/day
• HIV and AIDS because lack of education, poor sanitation and nutrition (perpetuates cycle of poverty)

Question 12

what are social reasons for 21st century slums?

Answer 12

• Kikuyu tribe dominates Kibera (Nubian tribe helpless)

- Lyo and Luhya tribes moving in (Luo MP representative -> gang warfare

Question 13

what are 6 improvements in life in Kibera?

Answer 13

1) everyone has electricity access
2) clean water available
3) some children go to school
4) no longer flying toilets -> sewage system
5) gov. fund project for young people to clean slum
6) reduced crime rates

Question 14

what is “flying toilets”

Answer 14

involves throwing human waste in plastic bags as far away as possible without knowledge where the refuse may land

Question 15

what are 6 informal jobs?

Answer 15

1) shining shoes
2) giving haircuts
3) selling water
4) carrying luggage
5) taking street photos
6) selling cooked food on the spot

Question 16

what is the secondary sector work like in Kibera?

Answer 16

1) TNCs (call centres / internet banking/ credit card billing)
2) cheap wages (people desperate -> outsourced jobs)
3) women and children exploited (minimum wage)
4) unsafe working environment

Question 17

describe the problem with slum housing?

Answer 17

• not enough formal housing to meet demand (67% of population lives on 2% of land)
• ‘slum tourists’
• high crime rates
• street children
• risk of landslide and fire
• AIDS