Kids playing in Kibera. [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
If you do not live in Kibera, it is possible you know too little about the slum touted to be biggest in Africa.
The stories you hear on TV or from friends are certainly a distortion of the real truth.
Well, these are some of the solid facts about the neighbourhood:
1. Biggest slum
Kibera is the biggest slum in Africa. It took its position after the upgrading and renovation of South Africa's South West Town (Soweto) slums.
It is also among the world's leading slums
2. Population
Kibera is home to over a quarter of Nairobi residents. It boasts of approximately 2.5 million slum dwellers who reside in about 200 settlements in Nairobi.
This represents 60% of the city's population that is settled on only 6% of the land.
3. Land ownership
Land here is owned by the government. About a tenth of residents are shack owners who sometimes rent out these shacks for money.
4. Houses several ethnicities
The original settlers in Kibera were the Nubian people who are said to have originated from Sudan. However, the Nubians now occupy only 15 percent of the slum.
The slum is dominated by the Luo and Luhya people, although other ethnicities from Kenya are scattered within its expanse too.
5. No water
Until recently, the slum had no water connections and depended on Nairobi dam for its water.
Currently, there are two mains water pipes watering Kibera; one from the county government and another from the World Bank. Residents buy the water at about Sh3 per 20 litres.
6. Talents hub
Kids in Kibera start exploiting their talents from a raw age. By the time they are 15 most of them have found ways into mainstream talent use. Good musicians and football players come from Kibera.
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