Between illegality and legality: (In)security, crime and gangs in Nairobi informal settlements

Mutahi, Patrick

doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2011/v0i37a857

Cited by 8 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Government investment in education and employment programs in informal settlements has been limited or inconsistent, and residents of informal settlements still face threats of forced eviction and/or demolition of houses and personal property (Corburn et al, 2012; Oduro et al, 2012; Wanjiru & Matsubara, 2017). Research suggests that in the absence of government services, many residents rely on gangs for service provision and security, which also comes at cost (Mutahi, 2011). It is within this history and context that residents of informal settlements have learned to cope, survive, and manage their daily tasks in spite of poverty, lack of employment and educational opportunities, and marginalization and exclusion.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, and Their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Winter

Obara

Aguilar

et al. 2021

J Interpers Violence

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Crime and violence are serious issues in informal settlements around the world. To date, there is a dearth of evidence about the causes of and effective strategies for reducing and preventing violence and crime in informal settlements in cities in the Global South. Additionally, women’s voices are often absent from research focused on violence and crime prevention and reduction in informal settlements. The purpose of this study, therefore, was (1) to identify potential causes of violence and crime in informal settlements, as perceived by women living in Mathare informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya and (2) to highlight residents’ strategies for response and prevention. Fifty-five in-depth and walk-along interviews were conducted with women living in Mathare in 2015-2016. A modified grounded theory approach was used to guide data collection and analysis. The most common contributor to violence and crime identified by women in Mathare was idle youth, but leadership and government challenges, corruption and/or inadequacy of police, community barriers, tribalism, and lack of protective infrastructure also emerged as contributing factors. Despite facing many economic, environmental, and day-to-day challenges, women in Mathare identified violence and crime as predominant issues; thus, developing effective response and prevention strategies to these issues is paramount. Women discussed many strategies and initiatives to reduce and prevent violence and crime in informal settlements, but also identified barriers to implementing them. Findings suggest there is a need for trust-building between formal and informal sectors of the community, systems of accountability, and long-term investment to foster sustainable and effective violence and crime response and prevention in these settlements.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, and Their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Winter

Obara

Aguilar

et al. 2021

J Interpers Violence

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Government investment in education and employment programs in informal settlements has been limited or inconsistent, and residents of informal settlements still face threats of forced eviction and/or demolition of houses and personal property (Corburn et al, 2012;Oduro et al, 2012;Wanjiru & Matsubara, 2017). Research suggests that in the absence of government services, many residents rely on gangs for service provision and security, which also comes at cost (Mutahi, 2011). It is within this history and context that residents of informal settlements have learned to cope, survive, and manage their daily tasks in spite of poverty, lack of employment and educational opportunities, and marginalization and exclusion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya and their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Winter¹,

Obara²,

Aguilar³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The purpose of this study was to identify potential causes of violence and crime in informal settlements and residents’ strategies for response and prevention to these issues, as perceived by women living in Mathare informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. A total of 55 in-depth interviews were conducted with women living in the informal settlement in 2015-2016. A modified grounded theory approach was used to guide data collection and analysis. The most common contributor to violence and crime identified by women in Mathare informal settlement was idle youth, but leadership and government challenges, corruption and/or inadequacy of police, community barriers, tribalism, and lack of protective infrastructure also emerged as contributing factors. Despite facing many economic, environmental, and day-to-day challenges, women in Mathare identified violence and crime as predominant issues; thus, developing effective response and prevention strategies to these issues in informal settlements is paramount. Women suggest there are many strategies and initiatives to reduce and prevent violence and crime in informal settlements, but also identified barriers to implementing them. Findings suggest there is a need for trust-building between formal and informal organizations and institutions, systems of accountability, and long-term investment to foster sustainable and effective violence and crime response and interventions in these settlements.

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“…Competition for dominance between different gang groups such as the Clever Kids, Hard Livings and Fancy Boys have resulted in vicious shootings often implicating passers-by (Stoltz, 2022). In Kenya, gang-related crime in settlements like Kibera and Mathare are well-documented (Mutahi, 2011). In the struggle for access to limited resources, informal settlements have also become hotspots for xenophobic attacks.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Non-conventional Security Threatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urbanization and human security in post-colonial Africa

Eyita-Okon

2022

Front. Sustain. Cities

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Urbanization has been unprecedented in post-colonial Africa. While cities and towns (urban areas) are crucial to bolstering economic activities, they are equally perceived as the scene for social and economic problems. This in turn exacerbates urban human insecurity. The paper draws on qualitative research method in exploring the challenges and opportunities that undermine or facilitate achieving sustainable and inclusive cities in post-colonial Africa. Particularly, the role of the African Union through Agenda 2063 in materializing sustainable and efficient cities, against the backdrop of climate change, in post-colonial Africa. The study present statistics on urbanization and human security trends in the region such as the rate of urbanization, quality of life in informal settlements and slums, the share of urban population living in slums, and a correlation matrix on the quality of human development in slums. The study finds that while varied strides have been taken across the African continent on a national level, the problem of coordination, structural/systemic violence, prevalence of external vision for Africa's development, and gaps in policy implementation pose a threat to adequately addressing the perils of urbanization on human security in post-colonial Africa. Irrespective, Agenda 2063 offers the continent the opportunity to prioritize urban human insecurity issues as an emerging non-conventional security threat requiring securitization. Also, it offers an opportunity to re-center people at the heart of policy decisions while creating incentives for member states to meet the aspirations, goals, and targets set out in Agenda 2063, as it pertains to sustainable and inclusive cities in post-colonial Africa.

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Between illegality and legality: (In)security, crime and gangs in Nairobi informal settlements

Cited by 8 publications

References 5 publications

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, and Their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, and Their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Breaking the Cycle: Women’s Perceptions of the Causes of Violence and Crime in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya and their Strategies for Response and Prevention

Urbanization and human security in post-colonial Africa

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