Mathare is a collection of slums in Nairobi, Kenya, with an estimated population of 500,000 people. Mathare Valley, the oldest of these slums, alone houses around 180,000 residents. Located in the Eastlands of Nairobi, Mathare covers 157 hectares starting from Pangani down to the Gitathuru River. Pangani borders Mathare to the west, and a police station marks its northernmost point. Juja Road separates Mathare from Eastleigh to the south, while Huruma lies to the east. Mathare is an agglomeration of 13 slum villages.
Aerial view of Mathare slum in Nairobi
How Mathare Began
Before the 1950s, the Mathare Valley was primarily owned by Asians who extracted stones for building. In the late 1950s, it became a hideout for "Mau Mau" freedom fighters. After Kenya's independence, many landless individuals migrated to Nairobi in search of employment. With limited job opportunities, many settled in the underutilized Mathare Valley, erecting low-cost shanties. Informal labor, such as construction work and brewing illicit alcoholic drinks like chang'aa and busaa, became common. Additionally, youth from rural areas, unable to afford housing elsewhere, settled in Mathare, engaging in small businesses or illegal activities.
Mathare Today
Mathare is overpopulated, with a population density exceeding 1,000 residents per hectare. This unplanned environment lacks public infrastructure, leading to disconnection from essential services like power, water, and roads. The city government has historically failed to provide basic services such as streetlights, sewerage, and garbage pickup. Without street lighting, it was unsafe to go outside after dark. Public utilities were also practically non-existent. Mathare had no toilets, and the river served as the slum’s sewerage system. Water was sold by vendors at comparably high prices, resulting in residents consuming less water than they should. Residents did their cleaning in the river, the same river into which they dumped sewage. With no system of solid waste collection, all waste was subsequently dumped into the same river.
Despite these challenges, Mathare has a vibrant commerce with retail stores, service providers, bars, food stands, and clothing vendors. Many residents work within the slum, while others commute to downtown Nairobi. However, a significant portion of the population lacks regular income or earns too little to cover basic needs.
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Historical Significance
Mathare played a crucial role in Kenya's anti-colonial struggle and the Mau Mau movement. It served as a planning ground for the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KFLA). However, this history has been eroded over time, and the current generation is largely unaware of Mathare's contribution to Kenya's independence. Today, Mathare is often associated with negative stereotypes, exacerbated by its proximity to Mathari Mental Hospital.
The neighborhood was first settled after the 1st World War. The earliest settlers were locals who had been displaced from the areas around Muthaiga, Karura, and City Park. Over time, Kenyans from other regions of the country who sought work and livelihood in Nairobi ended up settling in Mathare. The large population of non-permanent residents provided fertile ground for the recruitment of members of the anti-colonial struggles. The Mau Mau fighters as well as trade unionists found common ground in Mathare.
Disasters and Challenges
Like other Nairobi slums, Mathare grew as a result of massive rural to urban migration. Mathare is prone to disasters, including fires, floods, and landslides. A retrospective study conducted from January to December 2023 revealed the following:
Zombies of Nairobi
- Four cases of fire destroyed households and businesses due to illegal electricity connections, negligence, and arson.
- Two cases of landslides affected six households, with two injuries but no fatalities.
- Two flood disasters impacted 1,500 households with no reported deaths.
The unplanned structures, often built on unstable land, exacerbate these risks. Illegal electricity connections, poor construction, and inadequate drainage contribute to the frequency and severity of these disasters.
Mathare’s flooded shacks. The slum’s water supply has been contaminated.
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Torrential rains have caused devastating floods, at least 228 people have died, thousands have been displaced and nearly 2,000 schools have been affected. All remaining schools have been shut indefinitely by the government.
The water supply has been contaminated by open sewers, and the medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has warned that water- and mosquito-borne diseases such as cholera and malaria are “significant concerns”.
Urbanization and the Future
The rapid urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa is contributing to the growth of informal settlements like Mathare. Poverty exacerbates health risks in these areas, creating a cycle of poverty. By 2050, the number of people living in informal settlements is expected to triple, with a significant portion of this growth occurring in Asia and Africa.
Addressing the planning needs of slums and informal settlements is crucial. Short-term disaster mitigation measures include resettling households from hazardous areas and reorganizing settlements to provide essential infrastructure. Engaging communities in finding solutions and recognizing their potential is essential for positive change.
The lack of potable water or electricity or medical care or schools or housing in Mathare, is a story that can easily be found in Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu or any other Kenyan town.
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| Disaster Type | Number of Cases | Households Affected | Injuries | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | 4 | 199 | Unknown | 0 |
| Landslide | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Flood | 2 | 1500 | 0 | 0 |
Recommendations: The government and partners should invest in educating residents on disaster prevention and education. Relevant government authorities should inspect and approve construction of buildings in Mathare. Arrest and prosecution of arsonists and educate against the vice. Government to construct and unclog drainage to manage rain water. Demolish illegal structures along the roads to create access in emergency response.
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