Nairobi Flashcards
Squatter settlements
Around 60% of the population live in slums around 2.5million
Many new migrants to cities in developing countries cannot afford housing so they are forced to build temporary accommodation in spontaneous settlers
Made from scrap materials like wood and metal sheeting
Lack of services such as water, sanitation and electricity and they are usually very over-crowded
City council has to deal with additional urban waste, pollution, stress on infrastructure and the city’s services
200 settlements in Nairobi occupying only 6% of Kibera, the biggest slum in Africa (250,000)
High rates of unemployment - people turn to cheap alcoholic brews like changaa (not made safely, very strong, high rates of methanol) leads to high crime rates, increased tension
Only 20% of Kibera has electricity
Informal economy
Lack of tax paid to the city council
less money to spend on improving city infrastructure
the informal economy accounts for an estimated half of the city’s labourforce
street vendors sell handmade craft fruits and vegetables and recycled kitchen utensils
young boys shine shoes and wash cars
the city council does not support all regulate the informal economy as they are seen as threats to the cities development instead of opportunities and resources
Nairobi officials carry out evictions without notice which therefore destabilises neighbourhoods
The informal and formal economies are closely connected as the formal economy workers pay for informally produced goods and services
Urban pollution
Pollution from traffic is made worse by the roadside rubbish fires, diesel generators and cooking stoves
also the number of cars are expected to double in the next seven years which threatens Do you already polluted city V the already polluted city the world health organisation reports that the level of fine particulate matter in the city is a is 17 µg/m³ this is 70% above the recommended maximum level
household air-pollution - fuels that are burnt cooking
informal settlements burn firewood, charcoal and kerosene, some households even burn plastic bags - release pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide
Can cause respiratory problems
Water pollution is also a big issue for rivers flow through Nairobi however many many people mistake them for open sewage systems
The Ngong river flows through the Kibera slum which has no sewage or solid waste disposal systems so the waste is simply washed into the river
The river also passes through the industrial area where some industries discharge their waste into the river as a result the boreholes drilled for drinking water are at risk of contamination
Low quality of life
Residence working in the business centre are paid well and can afford luxurious houses, cleaners and private drivers. However residents in the slums face a different relationship
Crime and unemployment rates are high
Basic services such as sanitisation are scarce
People live in ramshackle dwellings of wood and corrugated iron
