| dc.description.abstract | This study set out to assess community participation in upgrading of Mathare 4A in
Nairobi City Council. Specifically, the study investigated the factors that facilitated
and those that hindered community participation. The study made use of participatory
approaches, and in particular stakeholders' approach to assess community
participation. The study relied on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was
collected from both key informants and community residents using questionnaires.
Secondary data was collected from available literature on the subject of study.
Primary data was processed and analysed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS). Through this method, variables and frequencies were generated.
The study found that community participation 111 Mathare 4A was in two forms:
individual and group participation. Both personal and communal interests motivated
participation of the community. Factors that motivated the community to participate
were better living conditions, improved housing, infrastructure and sanitation, refund
for the former structure owners, employment in the project, and good security system.
In the midst of motivating factors there were challenges related to social status,
literacy levels, health and environmental conditions, occupational constraints,
political upheavals, mistrust and suspicion as well as ethnic cleavages. All these
issues and challenges affecting the community were managed through open barazas,
seminars, wet core meetings, and workshops. The study found out that these factors
were entangled in competing interests of different stakeholders. The competition
affected participation required for effective implementation ofthe project.
The study findings show that there were a number of contentious issues in Mathare
4A. They range from ownership, allocation, rental, and leadership wrangles to
ineffective community participation. Solutions to these issues have been sought
through provincial administration. However, the attempts have largely been ad hoc
and reactive, with little solution being attained.
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Community representation 111 Mathare 4A does not reflect peoples' choice. This is
because whenever local elections are conducted, they are Ilawed due to violence and
intimidation. There is also minimal community involvement in the management or the
programme. The desire or each interest group to maxirnise gains in the project have
also contributed to ineffective community participation. The relationship between the
community and developing agency has therefore been unstable since the skirmishes of
200 I , developing the present stalemate.
The study makes a number of recommendations. It recommends efficient community
representation through democratic electoral process in order to attain effective
community participation. It further recommends an institutional framework that
allows the entire community to be represented by individuals democratically elected.
Once elected, a process that allows both forward and backward information flow has
to be put in place. The institutional framework should allow effective community
participation in M&E as feasibility surveys are being carried out. Finally the study
recommends more in depth research on competing interests, confl ict management and
resolution in upgrading, and participatory role of various stakeholders. | en |
