A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF KIBERA AS AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNCONTROLLED SETTLEMENT

This study focuses on the structure, causes, and solutions of uncontrolled settlements. It looks into the causes of housing shortages in Kibera's uncontrolled settlement in Nairobi, and what is being done to solve these problems. Data were collected in November 1989 at Kibera in Nairobi using a questionnaire. One hundred residents were interviewed on economic activities, employment and their perception of the adequacy of infrastructural services and facilities. Analysis using nearest neighbour index shows that houses in Kibera are randomly arranged. Infrastructure and service provision in Kibera is very low. Economic activities carried out in Kibera overlap both the modern and traditional circuits of the economy. Kibera is a reflection of the housing problem in Nairobi. Housing means more than shelter. It includes services to meet the needs of the people. Housing problem in Kibera was found to be related to scarcity of good housing, population increase without a corresponding increase in houses, poverty and unemployment and non-availability of job opportunities from which residents can get money to build houses. Attempts to slove the problem of uncontrolled settlements have failed because the problem has not been tackled in a comprehensive manner.