NAIROBI PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO: PUTTING COMMUNITIES AT THE HEART OF THE CITY’S FUTURE
Nairobi’s development agenda must be shaped by the people who experience the city every day. From informal settlements to established neighborhoods, residents have firsthand knowledge of the challenges affecting their lives and the changes they want to see. Their experiences must therefore inform the policies, priorities, and decisions that determine the future of the city.
Yesterday, the Social Justice Centers Working Group participated in the Nairobi People’s Manifesto Development Meeting, which brought together representatives from various Social Justice Centres, grassroots organisations, community radio journalists, and other community actors to deliberate on how residents can influence Nairobi’s development agenda.
The meeting was convened by Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT) in partnership with the Association of Grassroot Journalists Kenya (AGJK), with an emphasis on strengthening grassroots participation, community documentation, and citizen-led advocacy.
A significant part of the engagement focused on identifying and mapping informal settlements across Nairobi County. This exercise seeks to establish a clearer understanding of the settlements, their geographical distribution, the communities living within them, and the challenges that require attention in development planning.
Participants were also introduced to a data collection tool designed to facilitate the gathering and organisation of information from different communities. Through this approach, residents and grassroots actors will be better positioned to document local realities, identify recurring challenges, and develop evidence-based proposals reflecting the needs of the people.
The discussions highlighted issues that go beyond infrastructure and physical planning. These include affordable housing, land and tenure security, access to water and sanitation, healthcare, education, decent employment, environmental protection, public safety, and the protection of fundamental human rights. These concerns are interconnected and directly affect the dignity and quality of life of residents, particularly those living in marginalised neighbourhoods.
Social Justice Centres bring valuable community knowledge, networks, and organising experience to this process. Community radio journalists equally provide platforms through which local concerns can be documented, communicated, and amplified beyond individual neighbourhoods.
The Nairobi People’s Manifesto development process presents an opportunity to bridge the gap between community experiences and public decision-making. It seeks to ensure that priorities emerging from neighbourhoods are translated into demands that can inform development planning, public accountability, and engagement with leadership.
Ultimately, the objective is to develop a manifesto grounded in the lived experiences and collective aspirations of Nairobi residents.
Development must be defined by the people, not imposed on them.NOTHING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES!