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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.
Nairobi population
Urban population trends,
Kenya and Nairobi
Source: Kenya Population Census, various years.
1948 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2009
0
3
6
9
12
15
Million inhabitants
Total urban population
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.
Figure 5:
Satellite overview of Nairobi indicating locations of
slums in red (Tibaijuka 2009).
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
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.