Residents of Kap and Bou, two informal settlements in Okakarara, now have a representative body to push for development and service delivery in their communities.

The Okakarara Residents Association Fighting for Development (ORAFD), which has been advocating for informal land settlers for several years, is now officially registered. The association has over 800 members from Kap and Bou and aims to ensure that residents’ complaints are not only heard by local authorities but also lead to real change.

Sigfried Tjehiua, Director General of ORAFD, says the association is determined to hold the Okakarara Town Council accountable.

"Wherever there happens to be a problem, we are coming in to see to it that our people get the right treatment more often from our office bearers, the Okakarara Town Council, which is the administrative body of the Okakarara town," said Tjehiua.
 "We want to see development going and being touched and seen, in fact—not only by word but also by actions."

Kap and Bou were established about three years ago through illegal land occupation. While residents have faced challenges due to the informal nature of the settlements, Tjehiua argues that lack of legal recognition should not be used as a reason to deny basic services.

"We have been pleading with the town council that we need water, but it's only that we didn't push. Well, we are going to push because we know what to do for them to provide us with water," he said.
 "There is no excuse whatsoever for one to say, 'No, I'll not provide water for that location.' One of the songs the town council was singing was that this location was illegally established, so therefore they can't provide water to this location. But we are saying no.
 It does not matter whether the location is legally or illegally established—water must be provided because it is our right to have water, irrespective of how we occupy or how we live."

Some residents have already been relocated from their original land to make way for housing projects. Still, they say the lack of basic services like clean water and electricity remains a pressing concern.

With the support of ORAFD, the people of Kap and Bou are now hopeful that their voices will no longer go unheard.