The Challenges Facing Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme in the Realizing the International Elements of the Right to Housing: A special focus on Kibera slum in Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges facing Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP) in realizing the international elements of the right to housing namely: legal security of tenure; availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure; affordability; habitability; accessibility; location and cultural adequacy. It constitutes the findings of a field research carried out in February and March 2009 in Kibera Slums situated about five Kilometres from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The central questions of the study read as follows: 1. What are the challenges facing Kenya slum upgrading programme in realizing the international elements of rights to housing? 2. What are the recommendations towards solving these challenges? Despite the timely intervention of the Kenya slum upgrading programme, various challenges encounter its implementation initiatives. These includes: bureaucracy, complexity of slum settlement, landlords-tenants conflicts, different political, cultural and religious inclinations among residents, competing NGOs interests, lack of adequate land, governance, among others. The main argument of this research is that KENSUP cannot realize the international elements of rights to housing amidst these challenges. The research aims at identifying the underlying causes of these challenges and recommending appropriate interventions towards the realization of adequate shelter in line with the international elements of rights to housing. Using a rights based approach to slum upgrading in this study ensures holistic address of factors that mitigate vulnerability and marginalization of slum dwellers in their endeavors to acquire adequate housing. The recommendations of this research are expected to inform not only Kibera slum upgrading programme but also other slum upgrading initiatives in Kenya and elsewhere in the world