The means and positive outcomes of affordablesolar-powered public lightingin the informal settlement of Kibera, Kenya

Abstract: We live in a time of a relentless change.Technology allows us to connect to each other beingmiles away, and even though we all come fromdifferent cultures with distinctive mentalities, one thingaffects us all - the inevitability of change.Everything changes constantly - the way of life, ideas,climate, you name it.Around the world, people migrate to cities foropportunities and a better life. While life qualityis increasing as a whole, more and more peoplecome to live in slum conditions - somewhere whereit is considered to be below the human dignity. Manybig cities are not prepared to house their ownnationals arriving from rural areas, who leave theirslow pace of village life for a chaotic, noisy and riskycity dwelling. There are no investments for a decentaffordable housing initiated by the governments andtherefore large groups of new and poor arrivals areleft on their own.United Nations aims to connect people to electricityby 2030, and many large and small projects arehappening in various corners of the world.But how exactly does this work? What does it take toconnect people to a modern source of energy?How can the latest technology be implemented intribal communities and make them acceptant of it?How can sustainable local resources be usd in theprocess?These questions are the main objectives of thisthesis. I had an opportunity to vitness a fraction of asolar energy project in a Kenyan slum Kibera, and Iwant to examine the importance of using solar energyfor lighting up people’s environments in a sustainableway.I have spent 11 weeks in Nairobi (160116-030416),where I worked in one of the Kibera’s villages -Kianda. This thesis will aim to answer the question:What are the means and positive outcomes ofaffordable solar-powered public lighting in thesettlement of the urban poor in Kianda?To answer the question, the thesis starts withliterature reviews and definitions of slum,organisations and what the international aims are.A discussion of two case studies expands theunderstanding of the research objectives andcommon elements of solar projects.All background research and conclusions are thenapplied in the public lighting proposal for a pilot studyof community-driven solar project.I hope that this work will deepen a generalunderstanding about rural-to-urban movement aroundthe globe, why affordable energy and lighting is vitalfor the urban poor and why this is important to all of us.