Object-Based Image Analysis of VHR Satellite Imagery for Population Estimation in Informal Settlement Kibera-Nairobi, Kenya

Kibera (edge region within the Nairobi) is the biggest informal settlement in Kenya, and one of the biggest in Africa. The population estimates vary between 170,000 and 1 million and are highly debatable. What is certain is that the area is large (roughly 2.5 km2), host at least hundreds of thousands people, is informal and self-organized, stricken by poverty, disease, population increase, environmental degradation, corruption, lack of security and often overlooked but extremely important – lack of information which all contribute to lack of basic services such as access to safe water, sanitation, health care and formal education.