| dc.description.abstract | Urban poverty and the rapid growth of population have led to creation of
informal settlements. However urban areas are composed of communities of
people from different cultures who represent different interests and intense
competition of resources. Conflicts occur therefore in competition for jobs, land,
housing and other related opportunities. People belonging to less advantaged
social status such as women, become increasingly vulnerable to the conflicts.
The ethnic, cultural and religious heterogeneity of urban settlers also means that
people can no longer depend on their cultures to resolve whatever confiicts
they have because there is no common culture. Further, different groups have
different points of reference and are not usually under any obligation to consider
other groups. The role of the government in conflict resolution therefore
becomes very important because this is the main way of regulating people's
behavior. In addition, some of the resources belong to the government or require
government regulation to deal with especially land and service provision.
Non-formal conflict resolution mechanisms are also applied especially since the
poor cannot afford to have conflict resolved by the state or other designated
bodies. Similarly, most people do not understand how the system works and are
often intimidated by it. In other cases, like access to land, there may be legal
redress especially since structure owners do not have legal rights to land. The
arrangements are mainly informal and the residents have no choice but dwell
with conflicts on an informal basis.
To achieve the objectives of this study:" both qualitative and quantitative
,
research methodologies were used. The q*ualitative phase consisted of face-toface
interviews, administered questionnaires.
The qualitative phases consisted several focus group discussionsand in-depth
interviews to selected members of the community in question. In essence, the
VI
qualitative phase was used to provide more insiqhtsand findings obtained from
the quantitative phase.
Certain areas were looked into that bring about the conflicts in Korogocho slums
and the impact that conflicts have on the women in the area in question. These
are such as social services, tenancy among others. Some of the main findings
were that about 70% of the women in Korogocho are middle aged while 80%
were single either by choice, through widowhood, abandonment, separation
and divorce. Fifty per cent of the respondents had acquired the basic education
i.e. primary level. The income levels are low and considerably marginal with 31%
earning ksh 500 and below and majority drive their incomes from petty trade such
as hawking, brewing and prostitution.
There are major recommendations of the study that first; there should be
reduction of the rate of rural - urban migration that uses alternative development
strategies including targeted rural development programmes.
Secondly, there should be deliberation of policies an.d programmes needed to
address the level of livelihoods that characterize life in urban, slum communities
across cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Thirdly there should also be an improvement
on environmental sanitation including water, toilets, garbage and sewage
services.
Fourthly, strengthening existing health facilities to better respond to major disease
burdens of slum residents. There should also be an enhancement of access to
qualify health care and education for all-to bridg.e." the gap and ensure slum
children are not trapped in the vicious circle. | en |
