By Sarah Ouma

Shack Dwellers International Kenya (SDI Kenya) and Muungano Wa Wanavijiji organized a successful learning exchange on the physical addressing system, bringing together co-researchers, community members, and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) from Kiamutisya Village and Mathare 4B. This exchange, held today, provided a valuable opportunity for the community members, co-researchers, and CHPs from Mathare 4B to gain insights into how Kiamutisya Village effectively implemented the physical addressing system and the challenges they encountered.

Due to the unique challenges posed by urban poverty and living in slums, SDI Kenya and Muungano wa Wanavijiji, with support from Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity (Arise) and other partners, have been diligently working towards the declaration of Mathare as a special planning area. This initiative aims to address critical aspects such as Housing, Land and Institutional Arrangements, Roads and Support Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation, as well as Youth Education, Employment, and Safety.

The learning exchange held between Kiamutisya Village and Mathare 4B proved to be a truly enlightening experience. Participants from both communities gathered at Kiamutiya as early as 9 am to kick-start the day's events. The initial order of business involved introductions, as all attendees from Kiamutisya and Mathare 4B warmly acquainted themselves with one another. Soon after, the group embarked on a tour of Kiamutisya Village to observe the implementation of the house numbering system.

As you may be aware, informal settlements typically lack a proper numbering system, unlike more structured neighbourhoods. Consequently, the participants navigated through densely overcrowded houses, carefully manoeuvring around sewer lines and waste, to witness the numbering system in action.

Leading the field visit was Jomba, a dedicated Community Health Promoter and resident of Kiamutisya. According to Jomba, all co-researchers, community members, and community health promoters received comprehensive training on how to create numbering sheets. "Muungano Wa Wanavijiji's team took the initiative to identify and train the co-researchers in household mapping and filling out the numbering sheets," says Jomba.

Emily Wanagari, who is also a CHP, says that ever since the physical addressing system was implemented in Mathare Kiamutisya village, CHPs have an easier time locating patients in need of help. "There was a woman who was in labour, and we were able to give the ambulance directions so that they could reach her in good time for assistance. Now we know which households have children who have not been vaccinated. This was revealed during enumeration, and we also know which households are child-headed and which households have children who are not attending school.

The installation of the physical address system was carried out by the youth, community members, and community health promoters. They have now adopted the use of the physical address system in Kiamutisya when it comes to reaching out to patients, conducting vaccination drives for children, referring patients, and responding to medical emergencies. This is unlike before when they were assigned to support at least 100 households without having the housing systems in place.

Jomba revealed that village elders played an essential role in guiding the delineation of cluster boundaries within each village. "During the training, the co-researchers actively contributed to establishing the physical addresses to be utilized in each village," Jomba added.

Continuing with the field tour, Jomba, also serving as the tour guide, informed the participants from Mathare 4B that a total of 6 clusters were identified in Kiamutisya Village. The ground mapping process entailed assigning a unique identifier to each structure and door, while also clarifying the purpose of each room. As a result, a comprehensive count of the households within the village was successfully achieved.

Jomba further explained that data collected during household mapping and numbering led to the production of sample physical addresses in partnership with Buildher, an NGO that equips disadvantaged young women from Nairobi's informal settlements with accredited construction skills through a rigorous 12-month training.

Jomba enthusiastically pointed out the significance of the various colors on the number plates during the field tour. He explained, "You know, each color of these number plates represents different structures. Red stands for businesses, such as shops. Blue is reserved for bathrooms. Yellow symbolizes the Church, the spiritual heart of our community, fostering unity and hope. Grey designates social amenities like halls, providing spaces for gatherings and events. Lastly, Brown is used for people's homes.

The installation of the physical addressing system provided us with easy access to information and the location of residents who were affected by a fire outbreak in January 2022. It was easy to locate the 100 households that were burnt, and the people affected. This information was used by the Member of County Assembly for Mlango Kubwa, who supported the affected residents with relief food and construction materials," says Jacob Omondi.

We now know who the most vulnerable among us are and who would need help," he further explained. During Covid-19, there was an unfair distribution of resources and aid. Even people who are not from this area were receiving aid when, in fact, the assistance was meant for residents of Kiamutisya. At least now, with the physical addressing system in place, we hope that will be a thing of the past.

Eva Muchiri, one of the Co-researchers, explained, "We involved the local authorities right from the very beginning, holding multiple community meetings to sensitize everyone on the significance of implementing the physical addressing system."

Before implementing the physical addressing system, an extensive mapping and enumeration process took place. This involved gathering essential information about the residents, such as household and population data, gender and age distribution, the percentage of tenants, and the number of rooms occupied per household. Additionally, belongingness to various community groups was documented, fostering a stronger sense of unity and inclusion.

Barbra, a dedicated Co-researcher, beamed with pride as he shared the positive impact of the physical addressing system. "Now we have a profound sense of belonging," he said. "You can confidently guide someone who has never been here, and they will easily find you, thanks to the physical addressing system. Moreover, the government now has accurate data on the number of people residing in our community."

When the question of challenges arose, participants from Kiamutisya candidly acknowledged one minor obstacle. Despite successfully numbering all the structures in Kiamutisya village, they faced a limitation in implementing the physical addressing number plates on all of them. Nonetheless, the team remained resilient, continuously working towards overcoming this challenge to ensure every resident benefited from the numbering system.

The learning exchange between Kiamutisya Village and Mathare 4B stands as a powerful example of community-driven initiatives and knowledge sharing. Through collaboration, determination, and innovative solutions like the physical addressing system, the residents of Kiamutisya have cultivated a profound sense of belonging and empowered their community for a brighter future.

Their success has sparked inspiration in Mathare 4B, where the community eagerly looks forward to embracing the same transformative system that has flourished in Kiamutisya. As they embark on this journey, they know that the spirit of unity and mutual support will guide them in overcoming challenges. Together, united in purpose, Mathare 4B and Kiamutisya exemplify the strength of communities working hand in hand to build a more inclusive and equitable tomorrow for all.

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