Life in a Slum: Understanding Living Conditions in Nairobi’s Slums Across Time and Space
This paper gives an overview of the role of slums in urban Africa, focusing on Nairobi
Abstract
This paper gives an overview of the role of slums in urban Africa, focusing on Nairobi. It reveals the characteristics of slums and how these have changed over time. Spatially disaggregated data shows that slum areas are very dense with poor-quality buildings, lacking access to key services such as sewage disposal and electricity.
However, improvements to building quality, public-service provision, and socio-economic characteristics are mostly outpacing those seen in the formal sector. Measures such as child health and school attendance have caught up or are on pace to catch up soon with the formal sector, while improvements in building quality and service provision are advancing more slowly.
The paper finds significant heterogeneity across the city, and in particular that central slums look to be ‘stuck’ with low-quality buildings and poor service provision, though not with low socio-economic indicators. It explores potential explanations for why slums located on highly prized land near the center may be stuck with poor infrastructure.
This paper is a part of a Global Research Program on Spatial Development of Cities, funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund on Sustainable Urbanization of the World Bank and supported by the UK Department for International Development.
Citation
Julia Bird, Piero Montebruno, and Tanner Regan (2017) Life in a Slum: Understanding Living Conditions in Nairobi’s Slums Across Time and Space.
Links
Life in a Slum: Understanding Living Conditions in Nairobi’s Slums Across Time and Space