Largest Slum in the World
Did you know that Kibera is the largest slum in Africa? For many years, each successful president has had it on the political agenda to renovate. Millions of dollars have been poured into Kibera by international donor agencies but somehow on the ground, things are different. Residents live in abject poverty and some of them do subsist on a dollar a day or less.
According to Wikipedia:
“Most Kibera slum residents live in extreme poverty, earning less than US$2 per day. Unemployment rates are high. 12% of the population are living with HIV. Cases of assault and rape are common. There are few schools, and most people cannot afford education for their children. Clean water is scarce. Diseases caused by poor hygiene are prevalent. A great majority living in the slum lack access to basic services, including electricity, running water, and medical care.
The Government initiated a clearance programme to replace the slum with a residential district of high-rise apartments, and to relocate the residents to these new buildings upon completion.”
It is now Dr. William Ruto’s turn to make promises to bring the place, that is, Kibera, in Nairobi, Kenya to standards that are acceptable for both mental and physical health. He has promised to make it better than his predecessors ever did. So, why is there so much crying about this project? Why are the people who do not live there, so upset? Why are people so angry about the project?
The answer lies in the taxes. The use and allocation of taxes is in question here. The people who already consider themselves heavily taxed, do not want an additional tax burden in order to better others.
Samson Ogolla‘s Opinion
According to Sam Ogolla, a Nairobi resident and activist:
“Dr. William Ruto wants the largest slum, Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya, to be a thing of the past by putting up decent but affordable houses in the area. Sadly, there are people who see this slum as voters worth taking advantage of and not people who deserve dignified life! These are the people who are threatening run chaotic demos till the Housing project is stopped! To make matters worse, there are people masquerading as adults, who are supporting the poverty mindset!”
Silvano Ngacha’s Opinion
Silvano Ngacha, a member of the opposition thinks differently and says:
“Shida ya kukuwa serikali is that you intentionally avoid the truth. There are over 700,000 residents in Kibera. The Government of Kenya is constructing less than 2,000 units here. How will this upgrade Kibera? We need more robust , realistic and intentional efforts in eradicating Kibera. The GoK should re-possess public land, build high rise buildings & resettle them. Two thousand houses won’t change a thing.”
Ndungu Wainaina’s Opinion
Ndungu Wainaina, another activist from the opposition, who describes himself as Transitional Justice and Human Security Fellow and works at Africa Council on Human Security is of the opinion that the taxes must not be used. He says with emphasis:
“Housing tax is not for building houses. It is an insurance fund. Housing projects are being done by private developers on public land. Mostly this land is held in trust by County Governments and housing coporation. Therefore private developers are being given public land to build houses. There is no clarity on what legal basis. Now, once private developers build houses they sell to buyers who are financed differently mainly on housing financing schemes( not yet established unless existing ones) or direct buying. In case, the private developers build houses and fail to get buyers then Housing tax comes in. Thus, private developers have guaranteed return provided by housing tax. The rest is for you to connect.”
Indeed, it is a huge problem for everybody. Nobody seems to know the way forward with all the bickering and fighting over taxes and how best to get rid of the eyesore. Well, what can the ordinary man do in the meantime? Absolutely nothing for he is held at ransom by the people that control the taxes and the cartels that own the despicable structures that they occupy. At this point, it seems like it is that old saying, “Each man for himself, God for us all.”