Perspective: Kibera Slums

Slum Crisis At Kibera in Kenya

It has been revealed according to the World Bank that in 2004 some 56 percent of residents who live in Nairobi the capital of Kenya live in slums. They migrate from outlying villages and reside in the capital seeking work. The massive slum area is known as Kibera. (See map attached).

Contributory Scheme

The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been trying to tackle the housing crisis, but a plan if implemented, that could greatly assist in this regard is in legal limbo. The court has blocked the plan to date. In a nutshell a Levy would be imposed which would be taken from each person’s wages/salaries and this levy would be used to create a fund to build the houses and run a scheme to stem the slum issue. The World Bank estimates that 250,000 houses must be built each year to meet the demand for housing in Kenya.

Workable

An economist said “It is a great idea … the government must sell it to the people. There is a lack of confidence as to where the money collected from them would go.” There is the perception that corruption is a problem in Kenya. We have no evidence of this. This is unfortunate that critics feel this way.

State Visit

His Excellency of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta and Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta of Jamaican heritage made a State Visit to Jamaica as guest of the people and Jamaican government on the occasion of our 57th Independence Celebrations August 6 to 9, 2019.

NHT A Similar Plan

In Jamaica the government has set up a contributory scheme named the National Housing Trust (NHT) in which a small percentage is levied from all who are employed to build houses which are then sold or mortgages given to contributors to acquire their homes. It has been a resounding success and is cash rich.

Perspective

It is our wish that the Kenyan Minister for housing or the government will study our plan and sell same to the people of Kenya. Dispite the NHT we still have a squatting problem, but not as severe as in Kenya it appears.

Slumlords

Squatting seems to be a post colonial problem. The slumlords need to be made redundant.

We hope the Kenyan government will overcome their legal hurdles and get their levy implemented. This is a possible solution to chronic problem of slum creation and its elimination.

Personal

Vision’s SIC had the honour of interviewing the president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya on his visit to Jamaica.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a veteran journalist and Senior International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper Canada.