Population time bomb ticking in slums

By Michael Oriedo

The rising numbers of slum dwellers living in cities, especially in Africa, points to a crisis waiting to explode.

Research done by UN-Habitat, Oxfam and other stakeholder agencies indicate a worrying trend where the number of poor people living in urban areas is soaring rapidly.

A recent report, ‘Urban Poverty and Vulnerability in Kenya’ by Oxfam indicates that 60 per cent of Nairobi residents reside in slums.

Many of them live in dire poverty and can barely afford basic needs like food and water.

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Thus, crime, prostitution and child labour are rampant in the areas as people strive to earn a living, the report stated.

Acknowledging this reality, the Government, through the office of the Prime Minister proposed a programme to uplift the lives of people living in informal settlements by giving each family Sh1,500 per month.

However, this proposal ironically met stiff resistance from slum dwellers who believe that it is not sustainable and selfish people may use it to enrich themselves.

Other people rejected the move saying that it would give rise to more slums since people may construe it as a reward for slum residents.

Mr Claudio Torres of International Cooperation (Coopi), an Italian humanitarian organisation, argues that such a move would increase dependency among slum dwellers.

"It is anti-development. You cannot give people money for nothing then expect them to be resourceful and develop themselves," he says.

He notes that many slum dwellers would become poorer and sink deeper into squalor. He says, that to address problems like food crisis in slum areas, the Government should initiate development projects to empower residents economically.