Poverty and underdevelopment

Getui & Kanyandago (1999) define poverty as the state of being extremely deprived and insufficient in one‟s financial ability to acquire basic needs such as food,

clothing, shelter, education, health and housing. Extreme poverty can cause

suffering and even ultimately death. Underdevelopment as Karanja (1999:67)

argues, is the state of being extremely insufficient in basic infrastructural facilities

and services. Underdevelopment streams from poverty. In the urban setting, it is

manifest in the informal settlements.

Poverty and underdevelopment in Kenya have varied substantially across space,

time and various socio-economic groups. Diverse organizations have observed that

in Kenya, fifty eight and seventy percent of the national population live in poverty.

This means that a big population cannot afford the basic commodities. According to

Hanman (2007), the highest levels of poverty in the urban areas, were recorded in

informal settlements, with 94% of populations regarded as poor (Mwicigi 2005:46).

In this case, the poor are profiled as those who earn less than 100 shillings a day

(Mwicigi 2005:46). In MIS, 94% of the population is poor (Hanman, 2007:56).

Poverty is, therefore, widespread and remains a critical developmental and cohesion

The reality of many Kenyans as Mwaura (2003:75-78) observes, is shaped by the

hardship of inequality and the indignity of poverty, which all too often lead to

frustration and hopelessness. President Mwai Kibaki‟s government managed to resuscitate Kenya‟s ailing economy to 6-7 percent growth by 2007 (Macharia,

2009). However, this did not translate to improved real incomes, especially for those

Kenyans living in extreme poverty in such areas as MIS (Macharia, 2009). This

could be partly because of widespread corruption and systemic abuse of office by

public officials, only interested in their personal welfare and lavish lifestyles (Njoka,

OI, 21:10:2010). Makokha (OI, 08:10:2010) noted that people in MIS did not

believe the government‟s claim that the country had experienced positive economic

growth. As a result, the population in MIS felt left out resulting in conflict and

feeling of alienation from the national resources. Several respondents indicated that they did not feel included in the government‟s development agenda. They lacked

basic services such as education, health and security (UN Human Development

Report on Kenya 2008; Getui & Kanyandogo, 1999; FGD 3, 23:10: 2010; FGD 4,

28:10:2010). Inability to access basic and essential services made residents of MIS

and other slum dwellers feel excluded. This heightened the probability of violence

since disenfranchised groups would coalesce around their frustrations. Such groups

spark off violence at the slightest provocation (FGD 3, 23:10: 2010; FGD 4,

28:10:2010).

Most individuals in MIS live on less than a dollar per day. Hunger was a major

phenomenon in MIS. Many families were not able to provide more than one meal a

day ( Nguni OI, 22: 11:2010; FGD 2, 21:10:2010). People suffering from hunger

concentration in schools and end up performing poorly (Wanyoike, OI, 22:10:2010).

Hence, they are unable to overcome poverty in their families. Education offers

children from poor backgrounds the opportunity to transit from poverty to financial

stability through access to gainful employment (Mwangi, 2011). Conversely, hungry

populations experience and exhibit anger; this creates an emotional imbalance which

makes them to be easily lured into crime related activities such as armed robbery in

a bid to provide for their families, thus escalating conflicts (Getui and Kanyandago,

1999: 233).

Housing in MIS remains a major challenge in realizing cohesion in this informal

settlement (Ndungu, OI, 26:10:2010; Eunice, OI, 25:10:2010). On several occasions,

the tenants refused to pay rents, causing tension that gradually builds into conflict.

After 2007-2008 PEV, many landlords lost ownership of their plots through forceful

evictions and demarcation of MIS along ethnic boundaries (CIPEV, 2008; FGD 5,

19:10:2010). Landlords have attempted to repossess these properties using criminal

gangs. Such gangs themselves were associated with ethnic groups hence would often

appeal to the ethnic group leaders for protection. They were commercially hired to

conduct forceful and violent evictions (Kioi OI, 15:10:2010; Muthoka 2011:63).

MIS is neither planned nor is the land on which the shanties were built legally

acquired, thus complicating the housing sector. About 90% of the residents are

tenants who live in despair (Groots, 2008). Their living conditions are deplorable

(Grigg, 2004:20). Despite paying rent, they lack basic services including water,

sanitation and privacy (Hanman 2007:21). Housing is, therefore, a causative factor

Along the narrow passages in MIS, there were visible illegal connections of

electricity and water. Militia groups which include Mungiki, Taliban and Jeshi la

Mzee, among others, control the provision of such services (Irungu, OI, 27:11:2010).

In 2007, the police moved in MIS in a bid to disconnect illegal water and electricity

supply. This only served to form massive conflicts (Kibet, OI: 13:10:2010;

Brinkman 2001:12-14; Bodewes 2005:23). Lack of infrastructural development is,

therefore, a cause of conflict in MIS.

The informants indicated that due to high levels of poverty, they had less to loose in

case of mayhem in the city (Kibet OI, 13:10:2010; OI: 11:10:2010; Otiato, OI,

23:10:2010). Majority of MIS residents were casual workers in the neighboring

affluent estates, city centre or the industrial area. Since their wages were meager,

many opted to supplement their wages through odd casual jobs, illegal economic

activities or crime. Politicians usually exploit these vulnerable groups during

election (Mundia, OI: 11:10:2010; Otiato, OI, 23:10:2010). Scholars such as Getui

and Kanyandago (1999:231) illustrate how a poverty- stricken population remains a

volatile community. The authors argue that poverty has a causal relationship with

crime and conflicts. Individuals who are economically frustrated and deprived

become aggressive when there are obstacles (perceived and real) to their success in

life. When people perceive that poverty is caused by others, they tend to rebel in a

bid to dismantle the existing structures (Goodhand, 2001:66).

Due to prevailing high levels of poverty, MIS was associated with vices such as

illicit brews, drug peddling and commercial sex activities (Kariuki, OI, 22:

11:2010). Such economic activities aggravated the atmosphere of hostility, tension,

marital affairs, rape, spousal murder, drug abuse and incest in MIS were said to

breed conflict. During the period of the research, there were reports of different

gangs involved in brewing alcoholic beverage commonly known as chang‟aa along

the banks of the Nairobi River (Kariuki, OI, 22: 11:2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2110). The

brewing of chang‟aa involved the use of contaminated water and various toxic

chemicals (Kariuki, OI, 22: 11:2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2110). Some houses along the

river banks were used as bars, hotels and brothels. After drinking chang‟aa, the

residents would become unruly and attack even their own family members, sparking

conflicts (Kariuki, OI, 22: 11:2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2110).