KENYA: An informal settlement life experience shared to the Holy Father during his visit to the Slum
Pamella
Akwede from Kibera slum shares her experience of living in an informal
settlement in Kenya with the Holy Father Pope Francis during his meeting with
the poor at St Joseph the Worker Kangemi-Nairobi.
Below is Pamella’s
testimony
testimony
Your
Holiness, Pope Francis, Our Bishops, Government Representatives, visiting
dignitaries, Members of the Kangemi community, fellow Kenyans,
Holiness, Pope Francis, Our Bishops, Government Representatives, visiting
dignitaries, Members of the Kangemi community, fellow Kenyans,
GOOD
MORNING
MORNING
In
the beginning, God created the world and saw that it was beautiful. He created
man in His own image and likeness and asked him to take care of the earth.
However, because of human weakness, man failed to obey this call and fell. This
affected God’s true love for man and we have now classed ourselves as the rich,
middle class and poor.
the beginning, God created the world and saw that it was beautiful. He created
man in His own image and likeness and asked him to take care of the earth.
However, because of human weakness, man failed to obey this call and fell. This
affected God’s true love for man and we have now classed ourselves as the rich,
middle class and poor.
Your
Holiness, allow me to share with you my experience living in an informal
settlement in Kenya. I am proud of living in an informal settlement which I
call home. We hope and dream that slum upgrading will NOT be politicized and
will combine security of tenure with shelter and service provision, and be
beneficial to us all.
Holiness, allow me to share with you my experience living in an informal
settlement in Kenya. I am proud of living in an informal settlement which I
call home. We hope and dream that slum upgrading will NOT be politicized and
will combine security of tenure with shelter and service provision, and be
beneficial to us all.
According
to the UN Habitat, residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements constitute 55%
of the city’s population yet we are crowded on 5% of the total land area. This
can be attributed to failure by the state to provide for low-cost housing for
the poor, leading to absentee landlords taking advantage of the poor in these
settlements by building temporary structures not conducive for human settlement
and charging high rates for them. As a result, thousands of residents have
encroached on unoccupied parcels of land, including public utility land, where
they have put up semi-permanent structures.
to the UN Habitat, residents of Nairobi’s informal settlements constitute 55%
of the city’s population yet we are crowded on 5% of the total land area. This
can be attributed to failure by the state to provide for low-cost housing for
the poor, leading to absentee landlords taking advantage of the poor in these
settlements by building temporary structures not conducive for human settlement
and charging high rates for them. As a result, thousands of residents have
encroached on unoccupied parcels of land, including public utility land, where
they have put up semi-permanent structures.
People
in informal settlements live together as family, in unity and solidarity. This
is evident during different celebrations such the birth of a child,
marriages/weddings and during death. We see communities practicing their
fundamental cultures with different ethnic groups sharing and participating as
one unit.
in informal settlements live together as family, in unity and solidarity. This
is evident during different celebrations such the birth of a child,
marriages/weddings and during death. We see communities practicing their
fundamental cultures with different ethnic groups sharing and participating as
one unit.
A
resident of any informal settlement survives on less than a dollar a day, but
is able to access fresh agricultural produce from the market all the way from
the rural areas. Actually, one can get their stomach full on a cup of tea and
doughnut at only Kshs 20 (USD 0.19).
resident of any informal settlement survives on less than a dollar a day, but
is able to access fresh agricultural produce from the market all the way from
the rural areas. Actually, one can get their stomach full on a cup of tea and
doughnut at only Kshs 20 (USD 0.19).
Majority
of the residents in informal settlements are casual laborers at companies in
the industrial areas usually adjacent to the slums. Although these companies
generate high revenues and the Government benefits through taxes, the laborers are not adequately compensated. If you take a walk in any informal settlement,
the resilience of the people will shock you. The people are so entrepreneurial,
which can be seen from the huge number of small-scale businesses that they run.
of the residents in informal settlements are casual laborers at companies in
the industrial areas usually adjacent to the slums. Although these companies
generate high revenues and the Government benefits through taxes, the laborers are not adequately compensated. If you take a walk in any informal settlement,
the resilience of the people will shock you. The people are so entrepreneurial,
which can be seen from the huge number of small-scale businesses that they run.
Your
Holiness, we cannot ignore the efforts of the Government in providing security,
but a lot still needs to be done in informal settlements, with security still a
big challenge. Police services are insufficient.
Holiness, we cannot ignore the efforts of the Government in providing security,
but a lot still needs to be done in informal settlements, with security still a
big challenge. Police services are insufficient.
We
are happy with the Government’s free primary education policy, but this is
still a challenge
are happy with the Government’s free primary education policy, but this is
still a challenge
 |
| Women sing religious songs as they wait for the departure of Pope Francis from the St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church in the Kangemi slum of Nairobi, Kenya Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. |
since we do not have adequate public schools to accommodate
all slum children. Here, private schools charge very high fees which most of us
cannot afford.
Moreover,
informal settlements in Kenya have poor health and sanitation services, whose
provision has been taken over by private entities and/or NGOs or individuals.
Private health centres often lack trained personnel, with many of them run by
quacks.
informal settlements in Kenya have poor health and sanitation services, whose
provision has been taken over by private entities and/or NGOs or individuals.
Private health centres often lack trained personnel, with many of them run by
quacks.
Your
Holiness, water is a basic human right and access to quality water is a
responsibility of any Government to her citizens. People living in informal
settlements in Kenya have no access to water, which is often rationed, of poor
quality and unsafe for drinking. There are occasional outbreaks of Cholera,
especially early this year.
Holiness, water is a basic human right and access to quality water is a
responsibility of any Government to her citizens. People living in informal
settlements in Kenya have no access to water, which is often rationed, of poor
quality and unsafe for drinking. There are occasional outbreaks of Cholera,
especially early this year.
Your
Holiness, political machination is common in our settlements; leaders take
advantage of poverty stricken youths and tribal composition to gain political
mileage. Fortunately, people are aware of this strategy and have embraced their
different ethnic backgrounds. The Catholic Church prides itself in being at the
forefront in serving the communities in informal settlements, by not only
handling matters of faith, but also creating awareness and human development.
Holiness, political machination is common in our settlements; leaders take
advantage of poverty stricken youths and tribal composition to gain political
mileage. Fortunately, people are aware of this strategy and have embraced their
different ethnic backgrounds. The Catholic Church prides itself in being at the
forefront in serving the communities in informal settlements, by not only
handling matters of faith, but also creating awareness and human development.
Your
Holiness, it is my humble request to you, to urge the Government to improve
service provision in the informal settlements and to address security of
tenure, economic entrepreneurship, health, education and security.
Holiness, it is my humble request to you, to urge the Government to improve
service provision in the informal settlements and to address security of
tenure, economic entrepreneurship, health, education and security.
In
conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank the Government of Kenya and Kenya
Conference of Catholic Bishops for giving me this opportunity to share with you
my experience living in an informal settlement. It is a pleasure and honor,
not only for me, but also all the residents of informal settlements. I dedicate
this honor to them.
conclusion, I take this opportunity to thank the Government of Kenya and Kenya
Conference of Catholic Bishops for giving me this opportunity to share with you
my experience living in an informal settlement. It is a pleasure and honor,
not only for me, but also all the residents of informal settlements. I dedicate
this honor to them.
God
bless you and our country Kenya!
bless you and our country Kenya!
SOURCE: KCCB Pope’s Visit Office
