Shame of urban rot across Kenya

Over the last fortnight, Kenyans have been treated to news of criminality and generalised decay in Nairobi's Kilimani area. The neighbourhood has become a hot zone for drug trafficking, carjackings, murder, prostitution and human trafficking, and money laundering, among other crimes.

Here, basic services and infrastructure have decayed. The public-school system has, for all intents and purposes, collapsed. Despite recent attempts to rebuild roads, more needs to be done. Meanwhile, the rapid increase in construction has not been matched by improved capacity in water and sewerage systems. In sum, Kilimani is growing faster than the government can keep it secure or provide essential public goods and services.