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 water and sanitation systems. Most of the residents, who are renters, are left without affordable access to basic amenities. The state plays a small role, usually only permitting community led projects rather than offering services itself. Highway projects in Kenya, which demolished homes in the process have been deemed divisive, as seen in projects, like the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP), that have had set back when it comes to consult the community they are trying to improve.
NGOs such as Practical Action; Umande Trust, in partnership with community groups, work in this vacuum to implement WASH improvements while navigating through informal political dynamics as they try to bring change. The physical environment of Kibera is also as formidable. The settlement has an estimated 250,000 residents, and the shacks are packed with eight people in spaces as small as 12×12 feet. Large scale WASH infrastructure is difficult to implement due to the narrow alleys, the lack of roads and no formal waste collection system.
Kibera is particularly vulnerable to flooding because open spaces, where they exist, do not have proper drainage and sanitation facilities and the absence of permeable green spaces makes the area particularly vulnerable to flooding, which can contaminate water sources and damage existing facilities. The unplanned urban layout makes centralized WASH systems almost impossible and thus, reliance on localized, often inadequate solutions. Recent research starkly quantifies this extent. A 2022 study indicated that 77.4 percent of Kibera’s population has limited WASH access (defined as facilities within 100 meters with at least two options). On average, the distance to a water source is 95.5 meters and to a toilet 89.4 meters, with villages such as Soweto East and Kambi Muru underserved. While these distances may seem small, they are huge in Kibera’s crowded terrain, particularly for women, children and the elderly. Another problem: service reliability, which has proven troublesome; 78.5% of respondents said that water was unavailable and while 4.3 per cent of respondents use private toilets the number of people using public toilets is 56.7 per cent, with the majority complaining of poor maintenance. The health risks are increased by these conditions and affected most strongly on women and girls that routinely perform the task of water and sanitation. The prospect of glimmers of hope are nevertheless being provided by community driven initiatives.
