It is the largest slum in the country but Kibera’s economy cannot be under estimated. In fact, the slum is one of the pioneers of the ‘kadogo-economy’.
Here in Kibera, for every item sold, save a few pennies, you will find the smallest quantity.If you want paraffin, you can get it for as little as for sh10 as you mull about that finger licking chicken and chips at KFC or pizza at galitos, here you can get chips mwitu for as little as sh10 as the rich rush to take their breakfast in town buying one samosa at sh60. My friend, people here buy mandazi at sh5 for breakfast. You spend sh300 for your lunch, with the same amount people can use on two weeks shopping.
Am sure you are wondering how a persons shopping list in Kibera will look like, so here it is:
Milk sh10, mandazi sh5, mafutapima sh10, sukumawiki sh15, maize flour ya kupima sh50, 3 tomatoes sh10, 4 onions sh10, 3 bananas sh10.
Talk of transport: Public transport in Nairobi can be messy when it rains or when a dignitary is visiting. But on normal days, Nairobians wake up as early as 4.00 am to beat traffic, contrary to Kibera people, ‘route 11’ is the order of the day. Many residents opt to walk to their workplaces to save on their cash or use the cheapest transport-train. In fact during this rainy season, the train is usually full to the brim. Some residents risk their lives hanging on windows or on the door to get their ride home.
So life in the slum is not that bad evidently. This article clearly confirms that life in the slum is more affordable than in chic places...right?