A Mobile application to promote neighbourhood relationships and provide residential records : a case study of Nairobi County

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to review the neighbourhood networking literature, most of from other countries, to identify the trends and issues that can best be applied in the Kenyan context. It focuses on networks and neighbouring techniques and their challenges. Studies have shown that the most common crime after carjacking in Kenya‘s major cities, and in particular Nairobi is violent home invasions. This is mainly because people who stay in a certain neighbourhood do not know their neighbours well in terms of their names, professions and largely origin. In Kenya several initiatives have been brought up to help bring people together to create informed neighbourhoods, for instance Nyumba Kumi initiative. This initiative has faced challenges and slow adoption due to the dynamic nature of lifestyles in the urban regions. Tenants and landlords do not have an efficient communication mechanism especially in escalating complains and any updates. Social Networking Services (SNS) and Computer-Mediated communication (CMC) have been adapted in other countries but still do not connect the tenants and their landlords. This study has sought to understand the challenges of the neighbouring networking methods and come up with a solution that will enable and maintain connected neighbourhoods. This dissertation focuses on a selected neighbourhood within the city of Nairobi to undertake an in depth analysis, using the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The objective is to develop a solution that will facilitate networked neighbourhoods enabling exchange of information and services and give people a sense of belonging even with the dynamic nature of lifestyles. The mobile and web system was developed and tested which enables neighbourhood interactions, channelling of issues, updates and recommendations and also providing tenant reviews.