The number of beggars in Kibera has increased. Beggars wake up early in the morning and go to the streets and all the various corners of Kibera slums villages, market places in search of daily bread.
Early in the morning, the beggars are seen with small cups, plates and baskets with 2 to 3 coins of sh10 or sh20. They then shake the cup or plate so that the coins produce sounds that attract people who sympathise with them and give them a coin or two.
In the past, you would hardly get a beggar but these days, they are all over as some of them pretend to be poor and disabled but in the real sense such people’s families are rich enough to provide for them.
It is now known that most of the beggars in Kibera are not really beggars. Some are even hired by people to pretend to be lame or sick so that they can be helped by small contributions.
These people have homes which they go to every evening after a day’s work. It has recently come to the point where Kibera residents have known that these beggars have been hired and brought to Kibera by certain individuals from disclosed places to be beggars at a fee.
In fact, this is bringing tension and among the residents who feel they have been fooled to give money thinking they are helping but they are not.
Residents have now said that they will not be helping any beggars even if they are really needy.