| Revitalizing an Urban Slum with 800,000 people in it, | | | | the demand will also help in-town Nairobi businesses |
| will not be easy and that is exactly what Kibera is in | | | | to make items that are desired and employ more |
| Nairobi, Kenya. The Nairobi city officials state that | | | | people in the city, including those who need jobs in |
| they are illegal settlements and they want them | | | | Kibera and other slum areas throughout. Of course |
| gone. But a plan has been floated by the Online Think | | | | for those who wish to leave the slums they will have |
| Tank to tear down these urban slums in Nairobi and | | | | a way out if they are willing to work hard and learn |
| simultaneously build them back up and make them | | | | how to work smart. |
| economically viable with small businesses. | | | | This also provides a stepping stone from poverty to |
| It has been theorized that mobile small business | | | | middle class Kenya. Eventually the businesses will |
| enterprises could work throughout the settlement | | | | become more elaborate with local-branding in Kibera |
| and be funded with microloans to promote economic | | | | and the slum areas. For instance the push cart |
| development. The businesses would be product and | | | | businesses will expand and improve image, with |
| service businesses built on carts and the units could | | | | uniforms and emerging brands. Eventually each |
| disperse themselves throughout the Kiberia area in a | | | | town-center will have a sub-Chamber of Commerce, |
| grid formation allowing several workers in each sector | | | | which will be part of the Kibera Branch of the Nairobi |
| to serve the needs of the emerging consumers. | | | | City Chamber of Commerce; this will further improve |
| This will employ 1,000s of workers peddling wares, | | | | the chances of Nairobi Business Investment into the |
| doing services or selling food items. These workers | | | | Kibera and Re-vitalized areas. |
| will in-turn have additional money to feed their | | | | It will further encourage local banking relations and |
| families and maintain their health from the exercise of | | | | micro-loans into these depressed by emerging regions |
| pushing the carts. This type of business enterprise or | | | | of Nairobi. I certainly hope this article is of interest |
| program also adds eyes and ears to the community | | | | and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; |
| to insure neighborhood policing and reporting back to | | | | to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I |
| the town-councils. | | | | thank you for reading my many articles on diverse |
| As things progress the needs of the consumers and | | | | subjects, which interest you. |