News: May 2008

The Nairobi Basic Needs Basket

Cost of a Basic needs Basket in Sixteen Informal settlements Nairobi – Kenya, 2007 No.4

ISBN 9966–08-329-4

The Jesuit Hakimani Centre, for the last four years, has conducted its ongoing “Nairobi Basic Needs Basket” survey in Sixteen Nairobi slums. The survey seeks to answer the question: How much does a household living in these slums spend in a month? This new survey also wanted to know to what extent ‘social capital’, (organisation life) has on people in these slums. The centre uses the findings of the survey to advocate for decent living conditions for the poor and marginalised.

In 2007, the mean expenditure on basic needs in a family of four residing in Nairobi slums was Ksh 12,011.42 per month with Ksh 6,267.83 for food alone. It was further estimated that 60.8 percent of those sampled lived below that amount. Inflation hits the poorest sections of the population much harder than those who have financial means to absorb these inflationary pressures. Our analysis shows a direct relationship between inflation rate and the cost of the basket: in other words, as inflation increased so did the cost of the total food basket. Moreover, parallel significant relationships are observed between inflation rate and the main food basket (maize meal and vegetables) respectively. Price increases without comparable increases in income put pressure on households to access sufficient food. As expenditure on food increases, larger parts of the household incomes are being diverted from other necessities such as education and health care.

The number of associations that a household belongs to has a negative impact on a household well being. This was partly explained by the fact that most respondents declared to participate in solidarity groups and merry-go-rounds schemes where people invest money with little or no returns. The survey also shows that many people tend to trust their own family members above anybody else in the associations they belong to. Finally the study argues that, in order to shape genuine civil society with a bond that transcends divisive identities, associations have to have a deeper common identity, and must be driven by values that promote the greater common good.

The Nairobi Basic Needs Basket
©Jesuit Father Registered Trustees Eastern Africa Province
ISBN 9966–08-329-4
Year of Publication 2008
Email: econjustice@jesuithakimani.org
Website: www.jesuithakimani.org

Published by
PAULINES PUBLICATION AFRICA
Daughters of St Paul
P.O. Box 49026
00100 Nairobi GPO (Kenya)
Email: publications@paulinesafrica.org
Website: www.paulinesafrica.org

Top ^

Hakimani

Jesuit Journal of social Justice in Eastern Africa April - June 2008 Issue No. 02/08

ISSN 1995 - 6339

In this new look and style Hakimani Jesuit Journal of Social Justice in Eastern Africa we have taken a deeper look into the use of national resources at the disposal of governments in the Eastern African region. In the backdrop of political violence that rocked the country of Kenya prior and post the December 27th, 2007 elections, a serious analysis of the land question that is central to the conflict in the country is apt. Fr Gabriel Dolan delves into the intricate history of the land question in Kenya and ties it to the political leadership that has ruled the country for the last 40 years. On the same question of land, the analysis from Uganda ties it to the sensitive issue of gender and development.

The oil resource in Sudan has been cited ad the major issue fuelling the conflict in the larger Sudan and particularly the south. Julius Ojok takes a legal look at the implications of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the social justice dimension and what it portends for the inhabitants of larger Sudan, and in particular, those living in the south. Leadership, in the metaphor of a captain of a vessel, is the subject of our commentary.  Christopher O Yaye takes us into the philosophy of leadership and argues his case on the basis of a leadership of integrity as one of the remedies for the problems bedevilling Kenya and by extension other countries in the region.

In the opinion section, Augustine Ekeno SJ postulates on ethnicity as a challenge to democracy in Africa. Taking the case for Kenya in the light of the recent upheavals that rocked the country, he argues that a number of countries in the continent are going through a phase of democratic disillusionment. While there are no quick answers to the many questions raised about the democratic trends in the continent, Ekeno offers some leads into the solution of some of the pitfalls that democracy has fallen into.

I invite you to the new look Hakimani, may we learn from the reflections of our contributors, and go into the field and advocate on behalf of the poor and the vulnerable.

The theme for the June- August 2008 Edition is National Budgets and Food Security. Deadline for submission for this June – August Edition is 15th June 2008.

Hakimani: Jesuit Journal of Social Justice in Eastern Africa
© 2008 Jesuit Hakimani Centre
ISBN 1995-6339
Email: editor@jesuithakimani.org
Website: www.jesuithakimani.org

Top ^

Ambassadors of Peace Activity Report

The Ambassadors of Peace is an imitative of the Jesuit Hakimani Cenre (JHC) initiated on 19th April 2008 in Korogocho. This initiative has supported peace barazas in Nakuru, Molo and Eldoret.  In Nakuru, the ambassadors visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Nakuru and Molo, and  were exposed to the challenges of  communities living in camps, as well as, participating in the peace baraza, where community leaders  spoke of their challenges and called   for reconciliation.

In Eldoret, the Ambassadors attended a public baraza on 9th May 2008, that was facilitated by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) of the Eldoret Diocese at Burnt Forest Parish. The baraza had members from two conflicting communities, who were also displaced.  This was the first time; members from these communities had met. The issue on resettlement was raised by both communities who were willing to return to their farms, as long as the government would provide them with farm inputs, security and basic housing.  During the baraza, both communities were willing to reconcile and focus on the future; the Kalejin community was willing to assist the Kikuyu community re-build their lives and homes.  There was a request from the Kalejin community  to be involved in the resettlement process.

The other issue that was raised was the looting of property was harbouring peaceful co-existence. The communities were concerned that there would be no peace unless some form of compensation was provided or the communities owned up to looting and destroying property. Rev. Timothy Njoya, one of the ambassadors, suggested a one month amnesty at the community level. This amnesty would target persons who had stolen property, if the lost property was returned within the one month there would no prosecution. This amnesty was intended to restore communal relations through reconciliation and forgiveness. Honourable Njoki Ndung’u, the other ambassador present, called for the involvement of women in peace building and supports the Rev. Timothy Njoya on the call for   one month amnesty at the communal level for stolen property.

Top ^

Psychosocial Support Activity Report

The psychosocial support training in Nakuru, was on 27th March – 1st April 2008, at St. Mary’s Pastrol Centre. This training was targeting teachers in Nakuru and its environs. The target group was primary and secondary schools inclusive of the IDPs. The objective for this training, was to develop a psychosocial tool that could be replicated in the process of healing; ignite national, social and personal healing and reconciliation by using the schools.

There was psycho social support training that targeted students from the affected regions and the response was overwhelming, the students who attended the seminar gave narratives on what happened to them; while others wrote down their experiences. These training took place in three different schools.

There is a second phase of the psycho social support that is focusing on the training of trainers (TOT) and the target of this phase is one hundred (100) teachers. The training will take place in four session and each session will have twenty five (25) participants. The TOT will be expected to training teachers from their respective schools on psycho social support.

Top ^