From Smart to Shrewd– Provincializing “Smart” Urbanism Through the Heterogeneous Infrastructure of Waste Work in Kibera and Mathare, Nairobi

Abstract

Amid the pressing global waste crisis, the need for sustainable urban waste management is critical. However, while smart city concepts, primarily developed in the Global North, aim to integrate Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and digital systems for efficient waste handling, their application in Southern cities like Nairobi faces significant challenges. This study focuses on Kibera and Mathare, two informal settlements in Nairobi, to explore how grassroots waste management practices intersect with the implementation of smart city ideals. Through participatory observation and interviews with waste workers, the study delves into the everyday realities of household solid waste management. Surprisingly, the findings reveal a reliance on both digital technologies such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and mobile payment systems like m-pesa, as well as more everyday tools like barrels and carts. This hybrid approach reflects the ingenuity and adaptability of informal waste workers in navigating their work environment. The research exposes a palpable dissonance between the top-down smart city discourse promoted by policymakers and the realities of waste workers in these informal settlements. As a result, the study advocates for a paradigm shift from smart to shrewd urbanism which is rooted in local contexts and challenges the dominant narrative of smart cities. It calls for alternative visions of African smart cities that prioritize heterogeneity, sustainability, and the incorporation of grassroots knowledge and practices. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this approach could enrich our understanding of how digital technologies are being worked into the urban fabric of cities in the Global South. This nuanced understanding can inform policy-making and urban management, leading to more effective and responsive strategies for sustainable development.