Role of Communication and Public Participation in Slum Upgrading Programs in Nairobi: a Case of Kiberasoweto East Zone a

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.