MAPPING HOPE IN NAIVASHA: LSTM AND COMMUNITIES MAP OUT A ROAD TO RESILIENCE

"When you see the settlement map, you finally see the reality of our lives," said one KCC settlement resident as she pointed to the colorful map the community had just participated in creating to identify vulnerabilities.

Community member pointing at vulnerability map during the workshop
From September 4th to 5th, 2025, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) joined hands with SDI Kenya, Muungano wa Wanavijiji, the Naivasha Women Federation (NAWOFE), and KYCTV Naivasha for an engaging two-day field tour in Naivasha Sub-County. The tour, which began in the settlements, immediately turned into a humbling experience of the resilience, resourcefulness, and determination of urban poor people.

Day One: Lessons from Waste and Women’s Voices
The first location visited was the Kayole/Mdaki dumping ground, a huge area where waste has become both a source of livelihood and an everyday health risk. Overcapacity, poisonous fumes from burning, and chemical leachate into local farms and further into Lake Naivasha were some of the problems exposed. But so were the solutions: composting through vermiculture and black soldier fly larvae for organic waste, sorting waste at source, and converting dumps into material recovery facilities.

LSTM team and community members at Kayole/Mdaki dumping site
In Mithuri settlement, the grim realities of natural disaster threats, evictions and the awaiting court case, unstable housing, and lack of sanitation challenged the dreams of young people seeking opportunities beyond casual work. Women breaking stones in the quarry to eke out a living shared their stories with subdued pride and called for secure land, better housing, and decent employment for their children.

Women quarry workers at Mithuri settlement breaking rocks for livelihood
The tour subsequently became upbeat at the Naivasha Women Federation (NAWOFE). From a savings scheme and waste collection venture to a posho mill, an egg incubator, and psychosocial support for GBV survivors, to a savings cooperative, the women showed us what collective strength looks like. They also face a hurdle many grassroots organizations are all too familiar with—funding. With more investment, these initiatives could reach even more families.

NAWOFE members presenting their savings group and livelihood initiatives
The day concluded at Kabati YMCA with a visioning session, where residents shared vibrant pictures of safe homeownership, climate-resilient shelter, and sustainable livelihoods.