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Food Systems in Informal Urban Settlements—Exploring Differences in Livelihood Welfare Factors across Kibera, Nairobi

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  • Katrine Soma

    (Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Valerie Cornelia Johanna Janssen

    (Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Oscar Ingasia Ayuya

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Egerton University, Egerton P.O. Box 536-20115, Kenya)

  • Benson Obwanga

    (Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Technology, Laikipia University, Nyahururu P.O. Box 1100-20300, Kenya)

Abstract

The number and sizes of informal settlements are expected to increase drastically in the future, and dramatically so in Sub-Saharan Africa, where migration from rural to urban areas is increasing, and poverty and food insecurity threaten livelihoods. Data sources explaining livelihood factors in informal settlements are scarce, and often highly disputed. In this study, Kibera is investigated, one of the largest informal settlements in Africa. The main aim is to analyze differences in livelihood factors across the villages in Kibera, and to explain some of the existing discrepancies in food security levels among its population. In particular, livelihood factors such as tribe, welfare and trust can explain some of the variation in food security across 12 of the 13 villages located in Kibera. The analyses inform of significant differences across the villages when it comes to, among others, income, food insecurity, ownership of land in rural areas, tribal background and trust levels in strangers and community leads. To reach the millions of people living in informal settlements now, and increasingly so in the future, it is advised that research and implementation go hand in hand, with enhanced understanding of the complexities within rural–urban food systems to ensure solutions that are affordable and accessible to low-income groups. On this pathway to fight poverty and hunger in the future, today’s policies and programs must take such complexities into account to positively contribute to strengthening the resiliency and sustainability of rural–urban food systems by ensuring an increase in welfare levels with zero climate impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Katrine Soma & Valerie Cornelia Johanna Janssen & Oscar Ingasia Ayuya & Benson Obwanga, 2022. "Food Systems in Informal Urban Settlements—Exploring Differences in Livelihood Welfare Factors across Kibera, Nairobi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:11099-:d:907312
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Katrine Soma & Wil Hennen & Siemen van Berkum, 2023. "Can Domestic Food Production Provide Future Urban Populations with Food and Nutrition Security?—Insights from Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, June.

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