Community-driven interventions offer promising solutions. The Soweto East K-WATSAN project was designed to improve WASH through community participation, creation of management committees and construction of seven sanitation blocks and a road. In a 2012 survey of 275 residents, 55.7 percent reported “much better” conditions, with sanitation blocks cutting ‘flying toilets’ and the road promoting commerce.Continue reading More on Research Problem

At heart, both the weak governance and the poor urban design that is causing the problem. Kibera is heavily governed with minimal municipal support and is characterized by unclear land ownership that is gives cost to investment into infrastructure. The unplanned and crowded layout of the settlement with narrow alleys and no proper roads makesContinue reading Research Problem?

Just for perspective. Key Findings Table Aspect Key Findings Source Population and Density Kibera, with ~250,000 residents, has high density, complicating WASH access. K-WATSAN Report WASH Accessibility 77.4% of residents have limited WASH access; average distance to water: 95.5m. WASH Accessibility Study Governance Challenges Weak formal systems; K-WATSAN committees faced consultation gaps. K-WATSAN Report DesignContinue reading Key Findings Table

The UN-Habitat K-WATSAN project in Soweto East aimed to improve WASH by means of community participation, the formation of management committees, and the construction of seven sanitation blocks and a road. The road, which fostered commerce, and sanitation blocks reduced ‘flying toilets’ and 55.7 per cent of 275 residents said they had ‘much better’ conditionsContinue reading A bit more on my Literature Review?

So, according to research, Kibera’s governance structure that is replete with low municipal support and reliance on informal systems further impede equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Land is much controlled by the Kenyan government but the historical claims and permits induce tenure ambiguity discouraging landlords from developing infrastructure such as waterContinue reading What have I seen so far in my Literature Review Research

  In a city where everyone bears equal say on how they want it to be and the sanitation is safe and clean. This vision of an inclusive urban society seems grand, but it seems possible if cities design with sanitation and governance challenges in mind, make good policies based on that and get allContinue reading What Should an Inclusive Society in this Context look like?

I was in a public service management and public design course this semester and learned that you have to understand community needs as well as get people involved in service design. This information is guiding how I work on my research on access to basic services in Kibera. For the main part my research isContinue reading Designing and Delivering Public Services in my Research context

Building Foundations: Literature review for Equitable Water and Sanitation Governance in Kibera A solid literature review is the genesis of a strong research dissertation. In my study on equitable water and sanitation governance in Kibera, the literature review serves as the foundation for understanding existing knowledge, identifying gaps, and framing my research within broader academic andContinue reading My Literature Review?

In tackling my research dissertation on structural inequalities in Kibera, specifically focusing on water and sanitation governance, the recent lecture on Finding and Using Data proved invaluable. It shed light on both the theoretical and practical aspects of incorporating reliable data to map marginalization and advocate for equitable governance. Key Insights on Data for Research One ofContinue reading Mapping Marginalization: Towards Equitable Water and Sanitation Governance in Kibera

  Recently, I attended a lecture on ethics in research and let me tell you—it wasn’t one of those sessions you sit through half-heartedly while strolling through emails. This one hit home. It made me take a step back and really think about how ethics shapes not just research, but its impact on the communitiesContinue reading From Ethical Research to Equitable Governance: Lessons for Kibera