With little access to running water and other basic infrastructure, this informal settlement is home to about 1.5 million people.

Residents have to put up with rudimentary drainage and communal water points and pit latrines shared by as many as 60 people at any given point.

Korogocho is one of the more than 200 slums that dot Nairobi and covers an area measuring one kilometre by 1.5 kilometres wide. Approximately 150,000 people are crowded in these settlements. All these people living in the temporary structures that count to close to 11,150 houses made of mud and rusty iron sheets.

Despite the existence of the slums for over 30 years, the Kenya government has not offered viable alternatives.

According to Mr Kilonzo Makenzi, who works in the slums in an effort to improve living, the crisis has been created by the local government — in this case the City Council — and a few rich individuals who actually own some these settlements.

“Slum dwellers can make better and informed decisions about the planning of these settlements,” says Makenzi. “A shift in perspective is needed for overcoming inequality, alienation and injustice in cities and this demands collective efforts.”

Among the greatest achievements by slum dwellers their efforts to make their living conditions better.

One of the groups working towards making the slums better is Shining Hope for Community (SHOFCO) made up of 56 youth from Katwekera village in Kibera.

“We started the group to improve the social status and standard of living for the young people living in the slum,” says Romano Okisa. “We do income generating jobs like making beads and printing of Tee-shirts to keep those not in schools or unemployed busy.”  

Okisa thinks their efforts have paid off. “If you go to Kibera now, you will see how clean it has become compared to earlier years. We collect garbage and ensure proper waste disposal, Okisa says, adding, “We have ensured observation of proper sanitation in the area.”

With a membership fee of Sh50, that is less than a dollar, one attains life membership. This action has drawn many youth to join the group. The money is directed towards SHOFCO’s administration costs.

The group also partners with youths from other slum areas such as the ‘Maji Mazuri’ from Mathare where they exchange ideas on how they can improve their living conditions.

Despite the World Social Forum (WSF) being held in Nairobi and at a location bordering these informal settlements, slums dwellers do not understand what the WSF is all about.

“The people of Korogocho may not really benefit from this Forum as they do not understand much of what is happening here,” says Emmanuel. They still do not know how to hold the government responsible for enabling them to get better housing as they are constantly being reminded that they are living on land they do not own and eviction is quite common.”

This is the first time housing has been discussed at a WSF.

But Fabrizio Floris, a former lecturer at the University of Totino, Italy, says that unless governments take the high migration to cities seriously and ensure proper city planning, the great inequalities between the rich and the poor will continue.  

“The struggles by the people living in the slums worldwide should not be seen as a reaction to the governments,” says Makenzi. “These actions should instead be taken as a chance to set standards for the needs of people living in informal settlements for secure housing, tenure and structure.”