Nairobi - Kenya and the Kibera Slum Humanitarian Disaster Discussed

The United States of America funds Kenya some 1.6 Billion in Aid and yet we have human rights issues and slums in Nairobi, as well as in other large cities in Kenya. The slums are a humanitarian disaster, but in rural areas people make even less money and many are starving to death. In fact the farm workers are coming to the city for work, because they cannot make enough working in agriculture.

Agriculture and rural jobs pay only $.60 to $1.50 per day and those living in the slums of Nairobi can earn as much as $1.50 to $2.60 per day if they are lucky. These are similar wages to those in China. It is my opinion that the United States of America and the State Department should lean harder and offer to forgo aid money in trade for US Navy Seabees and Army Corp of Engineers assisting if action is not taken in Nairobi if something is not done to fix the slums.

Kenya must also address the issues with the neglected rural areas where death by starvation is common place and forcing families to move into the city to find higher paying jobs so they can eat. This economic disparity is driving more and more people into the shanty-town urban slums and draining the rural areas, which also desperately need help, often more so, as their crisis is even worse.

Due to the political influences the city gets the money first, the slums second and the rural areas rarely. Many rural areas have had issues with both floods and droughts causing catastrophic challenges with crop failures and food shortages and further price increases. The corruption factor is also a huge issue in Kenya at all levels of government and it is impeding their free-markets and causing the slowing of the flow of goods, labor and money.

This causes foreign investment to seek greener pastures and is part of the reason for the huge divide in classes in Nairobi and throughout Kenya. This is not a lost cause, as Kenya is probably one of the safest countries in Africa to invest in and yet, taking the ethical standards in both business and politics up a notch would do wonders to reduce poverty levels.

If more is not done, things will continue to deteriorate there and the humanitarian crisis will get worse. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

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"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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