A division of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Kibera constitutes one of Africa’s largest urban slums.
It is a place where the brunt of water scarcity is felt every day.
Clean Water in Kibera Clean water in Kibera is not only scarce, but it is also costly, inconsistent and contaminated; since Kibera is classified as an informal settlement, public services aren’t provided on a compulsory basis.
Kennedy Odede, who was raised in Kibera, founded Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) — a local nongovernmental organization (NGO) that catalyzes large-scale reformations in urban slums.
Organizations Working Towards Sustainability Majin a Ufanisi, a Kenyan NGO, pioneered the Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Enterprise Model (WASHEM) which is mandated to provide sustainable water solutions in Kibera.
M-Maji collects the daily coordinates of water vendors, so that individuals looking for clean water in Kibera can simply consult their mobile phone instead of wandering around.
More than 70 percent of Kibera’s residents own a mobile phone, making M-Maji a viable option for water-seekers.
Creating Tangible Improvement In a bid to represent all parts of the locale, many Kenyan politicians cite the provision of affordable and clean water in Kibera.
“But the residents know and understand that we only have their interests at heart.
Now, only time will tell how governments, organizations and Kenyans will fare in improving access to water in Kiberia.