Kambi Moto is one of six villages in Huruma, a slum area 5km north east of Central Nairobi. Kambi Moto occupies one acre and accommodates 270 households. Typical of all informal settlements, there are no basic services such as running water, sewerage, toilets and internal roads. In 2005, after the community had undertaken enumerations and surveys, and started negotiating with the City Council,, an in-situ upgrading project began. The project aims to build 270 houses: one for each family in Kambi Moto.
The community in Kambi Moto has designed and planned the houses, with support from architects. With the support of Homeless International’s partner, Pamoja Trust, the families are able to access affordable loans to begin building their houses. The houses have up to three storeys and can be built incrementally, in batches, depending on the size of the loan each family can afford. By 2007, 34 houses had already been built. A second phase followed and a third phase began in 2007 for a further 24 houses. The project is still ongoing.
The final houses are three-storey high: a ground floor includes a living room, kitchen and storage space, the first floor has a bedroom, a bathroom and a balcony, and the third floor has a bedroom and a balcony. This layout gives a total floor area of 55.5 m², yet occupies only slightly more ground space than the previous shacks. In-situ upgrading means all residents can stay in the same area and continue their lives and jobs as before, instead of being relocated far away.
Innovations have enabled construction costs to be lowered, for example using pre-cast concrete elements – a technique originally used by slum dwellers in Mumbai and adopted after an exchange to Homeless International’s Indian partner SPARC. Residents in Kambi Moto are also providing labour and Pamoja Trust and the City Council are providing technical help. By involving the community, professionals and the local authorities, this project has shown a different way of planning and financing urban upgrading.
