Nairobi in the Wake of Covid-19: Civil Society Organisations Key to Building Resilient Capacities

Abstract

While Covid-19’s acute phase has now subsided, Nairobi and Kenyan society generally are facing its longer-term socioeconomic, health and political consequences. These impacts remain poorly understood, especially for marginalised urban residents. Previous research into the Covid-19 pandemic in African and Asian cities indicates that there has been a slow economic recovery, particularly amongst precarious labourers and women informal workers. Conducted as part of the FCDO-funded Covid Collective programme, our research in Nairobi was based on focus group discussions (FGDs) with people living in four areas in Mathare informal settlement, which has over 245,000 inhabitants. Our findings reveal the varied ways through which informal settlement residents in Nairobi were continuously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has interlaced with other crises and deeper structural inequalities and social injustices. This policy brief focuses on key steps for a recovery that realises a dignified urban life for all. We describe our methods and summarise our results, concluding with our key policy recommendations.