United States Administrator Lisa P Jackson and UN-HABITAT Executive Director Joan Clos in Kibera
 
Lisa P. Jackson, the Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Joan Clos, the Executive Director visited UN-HABITAT's projects in Kibera, where they met members of the local community.

In a recent visit to Nairobi, Administrator Lisa P. Jackson met with UN-HABITAT Executive Director Joan Clos at the agency's administrative office in Soweto-East in Nairobi's largest slum. After a short briefing from UN-HABITAT staff and members of the community, Administrator Jackson visited the water and sanitation projects in the area.

UN-HABITAT has been working closely with the Government of Kenya to provide sanitation facilities, shower blocks and drainage systems in Soweto-East which is home to approximately 70,000 residents.

In addition, a stretch of road has been created and surfaced with proper lighting and drainage, creating a safe environment for the community to meet and trade and for children to play. The road also allows access for emergency services into the densely populated area. When it is finished the road will reach 1.2km into the settlement with residents already petitioning for an expansion.

Administrator Jackson was very interested to meet the community members who are involved in the project and emphasised the importance the road would play. "Roads can help create a safe environment which not only reduces crime but allows communities to meet, ultimately allowing good governance to take place", said Jackson.

Clos said, "The most important part of this project has been involving the community to enable them to solve their own problems. The facilities are now managed by the community who decide on the pricing and how they should be run."