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

From the last Futures Project lecture I attended, it was like stepping into a possibility workshop. This wasn’t just about ‘projects’ in the academic sense, rather, it was a way of learning to be creative, strategic and realistic. For someone like me, working on Mapping Marginalization: As a gold mine of ideas on how toContinue reading Turning Futures Thinking into Action: Lessons for Kibera

As I work on research to address water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) challenges in Kibera, I’ve found that a solid research design is as important as its topic. I’ve recently come across common mistakes in research design which can impede progress, all of which I’ve subsequently witnessed proven to be accurate. Dr. Carin Runciman’s researchContinue reading Strong Research Design

In my Exclusion and Inequality class, I was able to reflect on what meritocracy means (a concept of meritocracy is that of success being determined when you only have talent and hard work). The idea here sounds fair, and logical: if you do your part then you should be able to make it, no matterContinue reading Meritocracy and why it cannot be the solution

For as long as I can remember I’ve been interested in learning how to leverage creative solutions to address complicated social issues, particularly in low resourced settings. I’m working on a dissertation which explores how Design Thinking might be used to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs for people living in Kibera. So, myContinue reading Design thinking in Research: What does it look like for this research?

When I first began examining inequality in Kibera, the concepts of “equality of opportunity” and “equality of outcome” became central to understanding the struggles people face daily in one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements. Kibera embodies a unique juxtaposition of resilience and challenge—where daily life presents hurdles that make these two forms of equality particularlyContinue reading Equality of Opportunity or Equality of Outcome?

Excremental Politics in Kibera: Perpetuating Inequality and Exclusion When I first began researching sanitation issues in Kibera, I realized that the conversation goes far beyond toilets and waste disposal—it’s about power, control, and who gets to live with dignity. In Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, sanitation is not just a public health issue;Continue reading KIPP BLOG: ‘EXCREMENTAL POLITICS IN KIBERA’