Community federations and city upgrading: the work of Pamoja Trust and Muungano in Kenya

Abstract

SUMMARY: This paper describes the work of the Kenyan NGO Pamoja Trust and the urban poor federation in Kenya (Muungano wa Wanvijiji)

Participatory mapping and food‐centred justice in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya

“…This is in line with other definitions of community byNutbeam (1998), andFettes (1999), found inAllman (2015). For additional information on their activities, see section 7 and Karanja (2010),Makau et al (2012), andWeru (2004). One feature they share is that they engage in several core activities of the Kenyan federation of the urban poor with the aim of finding more cost-effective and sustainable solutions to housing, infrastructure, services, and livelihoods in these settlements.…”

“…Inspired by many other examples of PGIS and community mapping elsewhere (e.g., Corbett et al, 2006;Livengood & Kunte, 2012), the Kenyan Federation of the Urban Poor (Muungano wa Wanavijiji) has been using PGIS for profiling, enumeration, and mapping of urban informal settlements (for examples, see Karanja, 201;Makau et al, 2012;and Weru, 2004). They have had long-term support in community profiling from Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI), 3 which also supports similar federations in 33 countries and 488 cities across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.…”

“…They have had long-term support in community profiling from Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI), 3 which also supports similar federations in 33 countries and 488 cities across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. While generating up-to-date data allows them to negotiate with local government to improve living conditions and fight evictions, such efforts also give them greater confidence as citizens and create self-awareness of their capacity as a community (Makau et al, 2012;Patel et al, 2012;Weru, 2004). While generating up-to-date data allows them to negotiate with local government to improve living conditions and fight evictions, such efforts also give them greater confidence as citizens and create self-awareness of their capacity as a community (Makau et al, 2012;Patel et al, 2012;Weru, 2004).…”

“…The Muungano Alliance of the urban poor was formed in 1996 to give voice and legitimacy to the urban poor through enumeration and settlement profiling of those who usually remain invisible in city plans and are, therefore, largely excluded from accessing formal infrastructure services such as roads, electricity, water, and sanitation (Appadurai, 2001;Patel et al, 2012). While generating up-to-date data allows them to negotiate with local government to improve living conditions and fight evictions, such efforts also give them greater confidence as citizens and create self-awareness of their capacity as a community (Makau et al, 2012;Patel et al, 2012;Weru, 2004). In the last few years, Muungano has already profiled and mapped living conditions and concerns in over 150 settlements in Nairobi (Karanja, 2010).…”

Building Local Governance: Participation and Elite Capture in Slum‐upgrading in Kenya

“…Much research in the area of urban development studies has shown how state-driven regeneration programmes have resulted in displacement and gentrification (Bassett et al, 2003;Campbell, 1990). In contrast, other studies have shown how communities self-organize to demand public services, and have praised the collective action of disadvantaged urban communities in pursuit of their own development (Appadurai, 2001;D'Cruz et al, 2009;Mitlin, 2008;Weru, 2004). Despite their different approaches and conclusions, these two bodies of work share an exploration of the relationships between 'the state' (or other development agencies) and 'communities'.…”