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Urban population trends, Kenya and Nairobi

Million inhabitants 15

Total urban population 12

The majority of the urban population in Nairobi live in poverty and in slums. A 2004 report estimated that 44 per cent of Nairobi’s population lived below the poverty line (SID 2004) while about 30 per cent is living in slums.5 Nairobi has over 200 slum settlements with inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. The four largest slum settlements in the city are Kibera, Mukuru Kwa Njenga , Mathare (GOK 2010) and Korogocho.

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3 Nairobi population 0 1948 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2009 Source: Kenya Population Census, various years.

Figure 4: As the total urban population of Kenya continues to grow, the capital of Nairobi still harbours the largest share of the country’s urban population.

WATER SUPPLY

LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS The Water Act (2002) provides an improved legislative framework for effective management, conservation, use and control of water resources. It regulates and manages water supply and sewerage services. For both services and management, national and regional boards have been established and are responsible for regulation and supervision.

This institutional set-up as provided for under the Water Act examines issues related to water abstraction, treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment and disposal, and impacts

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Figure 5: Satellite overview of Nairobi indicating locations of slums in red (Tibaijuka 2009).

of the water supply chain on ecosystem health. In line with the 2002 Water Act, the provision of water in Nairobi is undertaken by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) under contract from the Athi Water Services Board. The company has divided Nairobi into six regions and the water network into four corridors to facilitate water better distribution.

SOURCES OF WATER

The major sources of water for Nairobi are rivers whose sources are in the Aberdare range. The Aberdare ecosystem is

5. There is no official figure on Nairobi’s total slum population.

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