dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to find out how communication and public participation
contribute to the success of slum upgrading process in Kenya. The underpinning theories used
in the study are Participatory Communication Theory and Two-Step Flow Communication
Theory. The case study was Kibera Soweto East Zone A with a population of 6, 800. The
Sample size was made up of 44 men and 44 women and the response rate was 77%. This study
used cluster and purposive sampling in data collection and data collection instruments were
questionnaires, interviews, observations and reviewing of data from secondary sources.
Qualitative data underwent various stages of analysis that included understanding of the data,
focusing on the objectives, categorizing information by identifying patterns or themes and
ensuring their flow, identifying connections and interpretation of the data. Quantitative data
was interpreted, analyzed and represented using various diagrams like pie charts, line and bar
graphs and tables. The study revealed that that the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development officials, planners and other actors like Kenya Slum Upgrading Project focused
much on face-to-face communication and its various forms like calling meetings and holding
seminars. The use of communication technologies like television, radio, phones and newspaper
was very minimal. To bridge the gap between the upgrading actors and residents, Settlement
Executive Committee was used, but still, there were communication-based problems like
language barrier, maps and plans were not shared, there were few communicators and residents
accused members of SEC of holding vital information for themselves. Also, levels of public
participation, a key component of slum upgrading, was low.The study concluded that to
increase levels of success in slum upgrading and public participation, the planners should use
communication technologies to increase the number of communication channels and further
profiling of the residents should be done to understand the languages mostly used by the
residents to reach them best. The use of SEC was good, but they should have been taught basic
communication skills to enhance their efforts to inform people. The main recommendation for
this study is that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development should invest more on
communication and public participation to harmonize the process of slum upgrading in Kenya. | en_US |