This study assesses the scope for transformative adaptation in Kibera informal settlement,
Nairobi. Adaptation discourse theories and Pelling et al’s (2015) ‘adaptation activity space’
framework provide the conceptual context within which this study aims to assess the
transformative impact of adaptation strategies adopted by Kibera’s residents and community
groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Government of Kenya, and other
organisations and institutions operating in the settlement. The qualitative methodology adopted
in this study targets the work of Kounkuey Design Initiative, an NGO that partners and
collaborates with impoverished residents in Kibera to design and implement participatory
projects. The findings of this dissertation are that, while incremental adjustments dominated
adaptation strategies in Kibera, local and small-scale transformations were found within and
between all components of the ‘adaptation activity space’ framework, and require increased
and improved stakeholder engagement, coordination and collaboration in order to increase the
scale of impact towards transformational adaptation.