1.1. Temporary Shelter Construction in Kenya

Welcome to the course disaster recovery and build back better. My name is Ram Sateesh Pasupuleti. I am an assistant professor in Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee. Today, we are going to discuss about temporary shelter reconstruction in Kenya.

In this introduction, the speaker, Prof. Ram Sateesh Pasupuleti, sets the stage for the discussion on temporary shelter reconstruction in Kenya. He emphasizes the connection between temporary shelters and the broader theme of disaster recovery, promoting the idea that these temporary structures can play a role in longer-term recovery efforts.

Imagine you are organizing a community event, and the original venue is unavailable due to flooding. You might set up a temporary tent to host the event, but your ultimate goal is to return to a better venue once repairs are made. Similarly, temporary shelters aim to provide immediate relief while paving the way for permanent housing solutions.

This particular lecture has been derived from one of the important contributions from Dyfed Aubrey, which is the chapter 9 in build back better volume, edited by Michal Lyons and Theo Schilderman with Camillo Boano. So, he talks about temporary shelter contributing to participatory reconstruction.

Dyfed Aubrey's contributions are significant in the context of temporary shelter construction. His insights focus on how these temporary structures can foster community participation and lead to more effective reconstruction processes. The idea is that involving community members in the design and implementation of shelters can increase their effectiveness and sustainability.

Consider a school project where students are encouraged to design their own classroom layout. When students are involved in the process, they are more likely to take ownership and feel proud of the result. In the same way, involving local communities in shelter reconstruction creates a sense of ownership, making the shelters more meaningful and useful.

The background of Kenyan condition, it is not a natural disaster but it is a kind of manmade situations especially the political violence. When you look at the natural disasters phenomenon or the risk phenomenon, it says almost more than 75% to 80% of the disasters are through political violence.

This chunk highlights the unique challenges faced in Kenya, where political violence, rather than natural disasters, has caused significant displacement and housing issues. Understanding this context is crucial for developing appropriate responses and temporary shelter solutions that address the specific needs of affected populations.

Think about how different regions respond to crises: in areas prone to hurricanes, for example, preparations focus on weather safety. In Kenya, however, the focus must shift to addressing the aftermath of human conflict—like resolving community tensions and rebuilding trust while providing shelter.

In 2007 and 2008, after the former President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential elections... about 1200 people have been reported dead, almost 5 lakhs people displaced.

This section provides a specific historical context for the discussion, detailing the aftermath of the 2007-2008 elections in Kenya. The resulting political violence led to a significant loss of life and displacement, underscoring the urgent need for shelters. Understanding the scale of impact helps inform how temporary shelters must be designed and implemented to accommodate the displaced.

Imagine a neighborhood experiencing severe protests after a controversial local election. Homes might be lost, and families forced to stay with friends or find temporary housing. This kind of upheaval creates an immediate need for safe spaces for those affected, similar to what happened in Kenya during this period.

There are 3 categories of this; the first was burning and looting... the second was an onslaught by opposition supporters... the third one is a pattern of violence was retaliatory and targeted mainly at the migrant workers.

This chunk categorizes the types of violence that caused displacement during the political unrest. Understanding these categories helps identify the needs of the different groups affected and tailor shelter solutions accordingly, whether they are victims of looting or targeted attacks.

Consider a community that is facing different types of violence. If some families are fleeing from direct confrontations and others are losing their homes to vandalism, the help they need will differ. This variance in experiences shapes how we think about providing shelter and support.

In any kind of situations obviously what kind of responses... some of them, they tend to move to their host families or like people who are migrants from different places, they go back to their places, set up spontaneous camps in police stations and churches.

This section discusses the initial responses of displaced individuals during the crisis. Many sought refuge with host families or set up spontaneous camps in safer places like police stations or churches. Recognizing these responses is vital to ensuring that shelters designed later on cater to the needs of the displaced as they adapt to their new circumstances.

Just as a friend might take you in during a tough time, people found temporary shelter with family or in community spaces, illustrating the importance of communal support in crisis situations.

The Government of Kenya’s ministry of state for special programs, which we call it MoSSP... UNHCR have also supported that the KRCS.

This chunk outlines the structure of government and humanitarian responses to the crisis. The MoSSP was tasked with overseeing the well-being of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and managing resettlement efforts. The collaboration with organizations like the UNHCR highlights how multi-agency efforts are essential in addressing large-scale displacement.

Think of a team project in school where everyone has a different role—one person gathers information, another creates presentations, and another manages logistics. Like this teamwork, the collaboration between government and NGOs aims to effectively reach and support those in need during a crisis.

Initially, there is a compensation package issued by the government about in a Kenyan of 10,000... operation called operation Rudi nyumbani.

This section discusses the government's efforts to provide immediate financial compensation to displaced households. However, it also reveals challenges in effectiveness and accountability. The operation 'Rudi nyumbani' (meaning 'Return Home') was initiated to facilitate the transition from temporary shelters to more permanent solutions, emphasizing the need for sustainable support.

Think about how a parent might give their child an allowance to encourage them to save for something special rather than always giving them what they want immediately. This encourages long-term thinking and independence, similar to the initiative aimed at helping displaced persons return home and establish permanence.

Many of these remaining... community fund and bought rural plots of land for permanent settlement.

This chunk describes how displaced individuals began forming self-help groups to pool their resources and purchase land for permanent settlement. This approach not only aids in housing solutions but fosters community solidarity and self-sufficiency among those affected.

Imagine a group of friends each putting in a bit of money to buy a shared piece of land. By collaborating, they can create something more robust and lasting than they could individually. This same principle reflects how IDPs worked together to secure their futures.

Housing reconstruction... provides a habitable covered living space and secure, healthy living environment.

This section defines 'transitional shelter,' highlighting its importance not just as a temporary solution but as a critical step in the journey toward housing stability. It emphasizes the need for shelters that offer dignity and basic services while waiting for more permanent solutions.

It's like an intermediate step in learning to ride a bike. First, you might use training wheels (the transitional shelter) to build your confidence before eventually riding independently. The transitioning process is crucial to achieving lasting success.

And how do one can identify the target groups... based on, land tenure whether they have land or without land.

This final chunk discusses how to identify the various groups among the displaced populations based on their needs and intentions. Classifying people based on factors like land ownership helps tailor support and housing solutions that match individual circumstances.

Just as in a classroom where different students may need different types of assistance based on their learning styles, identifying the needs of displaced individuals based on their situations ensures that the help they receive is both relevant and effective.

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