Well then let's put things into perspective then, we'll Kibera has a population of around 300,000 people and it is the largest. That means there is an exaggeration of figures somewhere or under reporting. Relocating is done in phases and wouldn't be a challenge because a phase has been done smoothly before. But objectivity is not used in debates here so anything goes.
It could be. I totally agree with you... But also(maybe) it can be that.. when they say Kibera is the worst.. they look at Kibera in terms of density of people per square km/per acre, housing status and sanitation, access to public facilities such as affordable and reliable public transport, water, health facilities.. etc. if Kibera is only 780 Acres and have a population of 300k that translate to 380 people per acre of land which is equivalent to 76 families (avrg. of 5people/family) ...Kivulini Estate and Saggaf Estates in Kibaha Tanzania both are 700 acres..and all are designed to be a home to less than 7,500 people.
Meanwhile Manzese is among the densely populated wards in Tanzania, (close to 80,000people) it covers 1.83sq.km of land which is equivalent to 450 acres. translating to 175people per acre. Magomeni (270Acres) , population about 25,000 people ; thats 90people per acre.
If The government (of Kenya) want to change Kibera and the funds are available..this will be the alternative...20% to 25% of land will be allocated for access roads, school and other communal facilities including open spaces and parks. that will leave the development with only 585 Acres. Let say the entire area will be developed for residential uses.. you can have up to 120 Dwelling units per acre..meaning you will make a total of (120units X 585 acres) 70200 units(Veirtical development. That number of units can house a total of 351,000 People. this will remain the most dense place in Africa and probably among the densest in the world.
in short density is the most alarming factor especially when it is accompanied by lack of social amenities.. Imagine Rocinha the largest slum in whole of Brazil is half the size of Kibera (with 350 acres) has only 70,000 people and a density of 200 people per acre. Dharavi(the most dense place on earth) 520 acres and a population of 700k.. (1300 people per acre) all these paces have on thing in common their density is so high.. and for limitation of land they all face..there is no room for the services to be provided.. so even if you rebuild the area with nicest apartment it wont change them..because there is no enough room to provide needed services.
if you make the room to make the needed services, the land/property value will skyrocket, and the big real estate player will buy them out.. but these for people 80% will go back to squatting.. because they dont know a new way of life, they do not know how to live out of Kibera.. take a case of 20,000 PLOTS in dar (Bunju, Boko and Mbweni) there was a string of small squatter settlements.. AFTER SURVEY THEY WERE GIVEN SURVEYED LAND... since the land was valuable now they all sold it and as a result it gave birth to larger squatter Boko CCM to Bunju and parts of Mapinga (esp. Mpiji Darajani)
The biggest reason is their culture is different and you cant change it by only providing housing.. you need to focus on providing means and letting them adopt and change on their own. The same principle is used now in Tanzania.. We teach people the importance of planning and living in surveyed areas, why roads are important, why do we need a much larger right of way as opposed to a smaller carriage way.. This will help them also adjust their ways of life physically, economically and socially to accommodate the standards of planning is a more casual way that does not hurt them.
Finally planning has to carry authenticity.. our neighborhood has to tell a story.. has to carry our feelings as a community. so you just cant go out and layout straight lines its useless..dead and does not speak anything.. because everyone can do that.. Its more of an industrial look.. But the same urban designing concepts can be applied to a much personalized urban design to make something unique. Take for instance Venice narrow streets (discouraging cars, encouraging pedestrians), water ways, not very tall buildings.. its their signature..and their uniqueness.
We have to embrace whats ours.. just let Kibera BE. Support them.