Slum electrification; opportunities and challenges in urban poverty reduction the case of Kibera informal settlement, Nairobi-Kenya

"Towns and cities are growing today at an unprecedented rate setting the social, political, cultural and \nenvironmental trends of the world, both good and bad. Sustainable urbanization is one of the most \npressing challenges facing the global community in the ir century. In 1950, one third of the world's \npeople lived in cities. Just 50 years later, this rose to one half and will continue to grow to two thirds by \n2050 ...cities are now home to half of mankind. They are the hubs of much national production and \nconsumption - economic and social processes that generate wealth and opportunity. But they also \ncreate disease, crime, pollution, poverty and social unrest " \nUN-HABIT AT; the agency for cities and shelter, 2006 \nKibera is the largest slum in Sub-Saharan Africa and a clear example of the slum situation in Kenya. \nWith an estimated population of 600,000 to 700,000 people, the slum is faced with challenges of high \npopulation densities (of up to 2000 people/Ha), high poverty levels, poor infrastructure services \nincluding over reliance on traditional forms of energy. Land tenure is a key challenge and a major \nbarrier to access clean energy and other infrastructure services. \nThis study focuses on electricity provision in Kibera slum, with key reference to challenges and \nopportunities it creates for poverty reduction. The study seeks to answer the question of whether the \nprovision of reliable power supply within informal settlements can trigger growth of income generating \nactivities, improve productivity, and in turn result to improved quality. \nThe study established that limited access to electricity in Kibera has been caused by poor planning, \nhence leaving no way leaves for the infrastructure service. High power connection charges resulting in \nthe ever increasing illegal ~onnections have contributed to high electricity related accidents in the .J . \nsettlement. Consequently", te~yaPower and Lighting/Company - the power utility company - has \ncontinued to lose millions in revenue from these illegal connections. \nFollowing these findings, the study went further to propose ways of intervention which would lead to a \naffordable yet sustainable slum electrification program. This can only be feasible through enacting \nlegislations that would oversee reduction of power connection charges and tariffs. With the improved \npower connection within Kibera slums, improved productivity of the income generating activities and \nbetter living environment, free frofu in door air pollution will be guaranteed.