The Politics of Development in Kibra: Raila Odinga’s Fight Against NGOs

Kibra, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, has long been a focal point for both international aid and political machinations. Despite years of substantial donor funding and numerous promises of development, the area remains underdeveloped, with dire living conditions persisting for its residents. The paradox is glaring: billions of shillings have flowed into Kibra through NGOs, yet tangible progress remains elusive. At the heart of this conundrum lies a troubling dynamic, where development efforts are often overshadowed by vested interests—particularly from NGOs and political actors who benefit from maintaining Kibra’s status quo.

A critical issue is the role of NGOs that operate in Kibra under the guise of offering solutions to its socio-economic challenges. Many of these organizations rely heavily on donor funding, which is typically predicated on showcasing extreme poverty and underdevelopment. This creates a perverse incentive: genuine development risks undermining the very conditions that justify continued funding. Reports suggest that some NGOs deliberately impede large-scale transformative projects that could uplift the community, fearing these would render their operations obsolete.

Raila Odinga, often called "BABA" envisioned the settlement as a model for urban renewal. During his tenure as Prime Minister (2008–2013), Raila spearheaded transformative projects such as the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP), which aimed to replace Kibra’s shanties with modern housing units. The flagship Soweto East Housing Project was a tangible outcome of this initiative, providing decent housing for hundreds of families. However, the project faced relentless opposition from NGOs and local leaders who claimed it would displace residents—a claim often debunked but persistently leveraged to stall progress.

Raila's efforts in Kibra became a political battleground. Opponents framed his initiatives as elitist, portraying him as out of touch with the grassroots. This narrative was amplified by the same NGOs that fueled misinformation campaigns, suggesting the projects were land-grabbing schemes or that they would erode the "community fabric" of Kibra. The fallout was severe: key projects like the extension of sanitation facilities, construction of modern markets, and road infrastructure stalled amid protests orchestrated by individuals with vested interests.

Several projects in Kibra have fallen victim to this toxic interplay of NGO interests and political sabotage such as:

1. The Kibra Sanitation Initiative: Designed to provide clean water and modern sewerage systems, this project was derailed by allegations that it favored private contractors linked to political allies. Today, Kibra continues to struggle with poor sanitation, despite significant funding.

2. Affordable Housing Units: Beyond Soweto East, Raila envisioned scaling up modern housing across Kibra. However, resistance from local groups and NGOs stalled these plans, leaving the settlement overcrowded and unsafe.

3. Infrastructure Upgrades: Proposals to build roads and improve mobility within Kibra faced accusations of evictions and were subsequently shelved. These setbacks have left Kibra largely inaccessible, hindering economic activity and emergency response efforts.

Raila Odinga’s initiatives in Kibra represented a genuine attempt to uplift the community through long-term development. However, his vision clashed with entrenched interests—NGOs and political rivals who thrived on the narrative of poverty. For NGOs, development threatened to dry up the donor funds that sustain their operations. For political adversaries, Raila’s success in Kibra would cement his influence in the region, an outcome they sought to prevent at all costs.