(GLOBAL Landtool Network, UN Habitat, 2008) Huchzermeyer, Marie
Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) recognises community-based slum enumeration
as a potential grassroots mechanism tool which could assist in achieving its
objectives relating to land management and tenure security. This paper analyses a
community-based slum enumeration exercise in Kisumu in relation to these
objectives. The enumeration was carried out in Kisumu as part of a city-wide slum
upgrading initiative. The paper draws on a peer evaluation that included interviews
with slum upgrading stakeholders as well as community-based focus group
discussions, mainly with enumerators. The paper finds that coordination of the slum
upgrading initiative, and beyond this of wider and often competing city initiatives, is
imperative for a grassroots enumeration exercise to link up effectively with the
planning authorities and for grassroots trust to be sustained for ongoing verification
and updating of the enumeration data. Key findings towards securing tenure include
the importance of various forms of mobilisation that accompany enumeration, and of
the informal and formal knowledge generation that results from the enumeration
process.