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SOCIO-ECOMOMIC DETERMINANTS OF WATER ACCESSIBILTY IN URBAN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
C50/21825/2012
A PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
JUNE, 2018
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the study
Globally, human development is primarily premised upon availability and accessibility of basic services such as the provision of water (Tissington, 2012; Showkat & Ganaie, 2012). Accessibility of water is, intrinsically, a backbone to the sustenance of life; hence, universally, water is acknowledged as the panacea for the sustainability of human development (Butuala, Vankooyen & Patel, 2010). Whereas water is seen as a scarce natural resource that is precious, survival of human beings is almost impossible without it. Human survival mainly revolves around water availability and accessibility. Concerning this, conditions and standards of living in any human settlement are determined virtually by water availability and accessibility (World Health Organization, 2010). Informal settlements that have the characteristic of being unplanned tend to experience an immense challenge on water resources provision. Inescapably, provision of water in informal settlements tends to be unsustainable due to socio-economic factors such as inadequate, poor infrastructure, lack of political will, institutions that are weak and other factors. As a result, this has had adverse effects on the standards and conditions of living therein (Kifanyi et al., 2013).
According to Muzondi (2014), Africa has the lowest proportion (38.3 %) of households in urban areas that have access to piped water. Records indicate that an estimate of at least 1 in 3 Africans residing in urban areas do not have adequate water services and facilities (Kujinga, Vanderpost, Mmopelwa & Piotr, 2010). Detailed records on inter-regional differences indicate that Africa has the lowest proportion of households in urban areas that have access to piped water (38.3%), whereas Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest (89.3%) (Loris, 2012). This African scenario is attributed to many factors, including structural difficulties, weak institutional arrangements, inadequate human resources’ working capacities, lack of political will, poor community participation and lack of competitive policies and strategies (WUP, 2003; WOP, 2009). Most policies in developing countries tend to be mere blueprint views that often fail to address the practical developmental problems and issues facing citizens. The situation of the deteriorating water and sanitation services is of great concern in the developing world, and Kenya is not an exception. The demand for water in Kenya urban areas is increasing due to high urbanization rates elicited by rural-urban migration (Mogaka, 2006). Given the complexities of the morphology of informal settlements, the extraordinary growth in urban population with spill-over effects of the proliferation of informal settlements requires effective water services systems that can be adopted to improve the conditions of living.
For decades, water scarcity has been a major issue in Kenya, caused mainly by poor management of water supply, years of recurrent droughts, contamination of the available water, and a sharp increase in water demand resulting from relatively high population growth (Mafuta, 2010). Urban areas have been largely affected by water scarcity, at present; only 50 per cent of people living in Nairobi have access to clean water; of which only 40 per cent have a regular water supply. About 50 per cent access water from vendors, kiosks and illegal sources (Mogaka, 2006). According to Dudley and Stolton (2003), only 24 per cent of poor people living in Nairobi had access to clean water in 2003. In 2007, the government admitted that only 20 per cent of poor people who live in urban areas have access to clean water (Mafuta, 2010). In 2010, 3.5 million people in Nairobi were in demand of 650,000 m³ of water supply per day, but Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company could only provide 482,940 m³ daily (Mafuta, 2010).
A report by WHO/UNICEF (2005) shows that approximately 22 per cent of Nairobi informal settlements dwellers have a household water connection while an estimated 75 per cent purchase their water from resellers at water kiosks operated by community groups or individual entrepreneurs and in some cases from pushcart vendors. Water kiosks are the main water source. Kiosk vendors sell water in 20-litre jerry cans at 2 to 5 Ksh each (about Ksh 100 to 250 per M3). This price is well above NCWSC’s average price of KSH 45/M3. Due to the interconnectedness between water and poverty, lack of safe water supply leads to large-scale low economic development as a lot of time is wasted in looking for water instead of other economic development activities. Lack of water leads children in underserved homes to miss school more frequently than those whose families have access to water and this result to lack of proper education which further marginalizes the children and reduces their future chances of self-improvement (WHO/UNICEF, 2005).
Insufficient, irregular and low-quality supply of water affects the health conditions of the slum residents. Although the residents of informal settlements have water supply, in most instances the water in some instances is not safe for drinking and household use because of poor water quality management, irregular supply of water and poor performance by water supply systems. One major problem that comes along due to water quality is the microbiological contamination which arises as a result of sewage sweeping into loose or broken pipes or supply of water that is irregular. A report by WHO (2008) indicated that an estimate of 3.4 million people in developing countries dies each year as a result of water, hygiene-related causes and sanitation. The inadequate water supply and poor quality of water in informal settlements have been the main cause of water-related diseases, which has largely affected the quality of life and development activities of the people who live in these areas. Initially, quality of life was related to feeling good about one’s self (Flora, 1998). However life quality has got a range of context that is wide, which not only includes wealth and employment but also includes development activities, built environment, education, physical and mental health, and social wellbeing (Gregory et al., 2009). Water-related diseases have led to members of the community not to attain quality of life since they spend most of their time in hospitals and use a lot of cash to treat these disease. The time and money used in hospitals can be substituted for other development projects.
Insufficient access to water also leads to problems of insecurity, for example, water-related crimes, stealing, conflicts, pollution and leakage by connections that are illegal. The crimes that are most common are muggings, theft and illegally disconnecting water pipes by thieves who collect the water and sell. According to a report by Thompson Reuters Foundation (2012), the Kenya Police indicated that informal settlements located in urban areas are undergoing many incidences of theft related to water daily, for example, Kibera reported as many as 75 cases of theft that are related to water. The Kawangware informal settlement which borders Lavington is one of Nairobi’s wealthiest suburbs. Lavington reported that they lack water since the Kawangware residents temper with their water pipes and steal their water, this also affects their state of security since the Kawangware residents indulge themselves with other kinds of crime as their go-to steal water like mugging and theft (Njeru, 2012).
Statement of the problem
Sustainable human development is largely premised upon availability and accessibility of basic services such as provision of water. Water accessibility is, intrinsically, a backbone to the sustenance of life; hence, universally, water is acknowledged as the panacea for the sustainability of human development. In the recent years, the Government of Kenya has made efforts to increase the supply of water. However, challenges still abound, especially in informal urban settlements. Almost 60 per cent of Nairobi inhabitants live in the informal settlements with inadequate access to clean water and are forced to buy their water from water vendors and kiosks.
Due to an inadequate supply of water in the informal settlement residents from informal settlements are forced to purchase their water from water vendors who sell their water way above the NCWSC’s average price. This extra money spent on water could have been used for self-improvement by informal settlements residents who struggle to make a living; women, on the other hand, spend most of their time in fetching water thus wasting a lot of time which could have been used for other socio-economic development activities. Children in underserved homes are also affected as they are forced to miss school more frequently as they search for water, lack of education and social development further marginalizes the children and reduces their future chances of self-improvement. The quality of water from these vendors is also questionable as the water may not be adequately treated and poor storage facilities causing widespread water-related diseases like diarrheal which affects labor output due to ill health and a lot of money is used in hospitals which could have been used in other socio-economic development activities. Given the above, this study is intended to seek information on the socio-economic determinants of water accessibility in informal settlements in urban areas.
Purpose of the study
In view of the above, this study is intended to seek information on the socio-economic determinants of water accessibility in informal urban settlements. This study will look at how socio-economic determinants such as age, gender, household characteristics, employment status, income, the source of water, cost of water and the distance covered in searching for water affects water accessibility in slum areas.
Objectives of the study
To establish the levels (rate) of access to water in Mabatani, Giathuru and Kia Mutisya in Mathari Valley informal settlement in Nairobi City County.
To establish key socio-economic aspects that influence access to water Mabatani, Giathuru and Kia Mutisya in Mathari Valley informal settlement in Nairobi City County.
To identify strategies that promote access to water in Mabatani, Giathuru and Kia Mutisya in Mathari Valley informal settlement in Nairobi City County.
Research questions
What is the main water source in Mabatini, Giathuru and Kia Mutisya in Matahari Valley informal settlement in Nairobi City County?
What is the frequency of water supply in Mabatini, Giathuru and Kia Mutisya in Mathari Valley informal settlement in Nairobi City County?
How much water is used per household in a day?
What distance is covered to access water?
What is the family size?
Who fetches water in the household?
What is the cost of water?
How can water supply be improved?
Significance of the Study
The study findings may be useful to the policy-makers both in public and the private sector in providing solutions to ensure safe, adequate and quality water supply among the residents of Mathare informal settlement. The findings will help to identify policy gaps if any, and possible recommendations to improve the accessibility of water in informal urban settlements. This will hopefully improve the accessibility of water by those living in the informal urban settlement.
Assumptions of the Study
During the study, it will be assumed that the participants will be cooperative and willing to participate in the study. Because of the challenges of passage routes in most informal settlements, it was assumed that the physical environment will be conducive and passable at the time.
Scope of the study
Data for the study will be collected in Matahari Valley informal settlement; three villages
were selected to conduct the study namely; Kia Mutisya, Mabatini, and Giathuru. The focus was on the head of the households
Limitations of the study
The survey studies relied upon were ‘self-report data’ that is, they depended on participants to truthfully and accurately report their attitudes and characteristics. Therefore information known to them may not have been obtained during the survey.
Operational definition of terms
Adequately treated water: Water that is clean and safe for domestic use
Community: Refers to a group of people living together, sharing the same values and beliefs and who interact regularly and intensely.
Community awareness: Amount of information one has regarding safe water supply.
Community participation: Voluntary involvement of people in setting goals, pulling up resources together and undertaking activities aimed at improving their living conditions
Inclusiveness: The right to be heard and participate in water-related processes.