In the urban gridlock of the city of Nairobi, living conditions are extremely harsh. Overcrowding and overpopulation in the city's impoverished communities lead to gang violence, low education levels, and incredibly high crime rates. The slums of Nairobi are located within "eyeshot of the luxurious houses of business executives, well-paid foreigners and Kenya's pampered and ostentatious Members of Parliament" creating a society within the slums of resentment and negativity.
Nairobi's is literally built on human waste. The foundation of the city is built from layers of "flying toilets" the Kenyan nickname for plastic bags used for defecation in many slums of Nairobi. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi and houses almost a million people, a third of the capital's overall population. This settlement and the many others like it are dominated by raw sewage and mud huts filled with more people than can be held by anyones standards of comfort. The shanty towns that exist in Kibera and Mathere are multi-tribal slums, adding to the confusion and sparking violence due to cultural loyalty and rivalry. Different tribes all live in close quarters in these areas, crowded into shacks laid literally right on top of and next their native enemies.
Throughout the world urban slums can be found. Just like in Nairobi, fast and overwhelming population growth and the lack of an organized and effective government to control the situation leads to inadequate sewage systems, lack of access to education, improper housing, and intense violence and gangs. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be one billion people in the world living in slums many of these located in Sub-Saharan Africa. While some say slums are essential to cities because they give the economy the cheap labor needed to keep prices low and the middle class stable, the negative effects of slum life far outweigh any economic benefits. The city of the future will most likely look like this., "vast metropolis that's a patchwork of old downtowns, planned suburbs, gated communities, shantytowns and tar paper shacks, all butting up against one another, sharing their energies, dreams and frustrations with violence and sometimes joy."
What if the government of Nairobi stepped in to help the population of slum dwellers? One solution the government could employ would be an overhaul of the septic system. If provided with proper and sanitary sewage systems, one of the basic dignities afforded to modern societies, the Nairobi citizens could focus on more important secondary aspects of living. Also, if the government instituted more rigid education standards and attendance obligations many residents would have chances to raise their standard of living. While the government can solve many things, the instances of crime and gang violence could be lessened if people from different tribes began to think of themselves as Nairobi citizens rather than members of their historic tribes.
Sources
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11854583
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111536114
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18292840
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4664144