Neglected, the slum dwellers have stoically carved for themselves a unique economy with black and grey markets where billions of shillings change hands daily. Things appear cheap in the informal settlements because slum dwellers use their dignity as their currency. Oblivious of the risk to their lives the avant-garde among the slum dwellers have illegally tapped electricity. The pillars of the slum economy are the adjacent shops, factories or wealthy families where most of the slum dwellers work as casual labourers. In 2014, the State started a Sh3.3 billion programme to establish a slum and informal settlements database.

Source: Standard Digital June 01, 2021 10:06 UTC