The Place Where Poverty Lives

Kibera is one of the largest slum settlements in the world. With an estimated population of approx. 700,000 and 900,000 people living in predominately mud shacks on a 630 acre hillside, it is a place of overwhelming poverty and disease. Though it is located just outside Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, it lacks official recognition by the government, and through its complicated 100-year history, it has transformed into a crucible of starvation, desperation, and, at times, tribal conflict.

"They opened up to tell their stories..."

What is it like to live in a slum?
Do you like living there?
Is there hope?
These are the questions our project explores...

Kibera is also one of the most researched slums in the world, but most analysis has historically focused on its "problems." Yet, Kibera is home to real people. This project focuses on telling their story.

In July of 2009, one recently married couple who live in Kibera – Genesis and Faith Njeru – embarked on a unique task of interviewing and writing about the people that live around them: young mothers, elderly widowers, children, married couples, people from different tribes, the oppressed and the oppressors. They wrote biographies of 20 such people, and the goal of their resulting book is to give their fellow Kiberans a voice through writing. Their hope is that the world would understand that Kibera is not simply a case study for "structural issues of poverty," but a place where thousands wake up every day to pursue life.

Why is this relevant?

In 2001, approximately 32% of the world's urban population lived in slums. By 2030, the number may be 50% of the total population.

It is estimated that as of the early 2000s, almost one billion people, or 31.6% of the worlds urban population, lived in slums. What is more shocking is that by 2030, close to half of humankind may be living in slums.

Thus, while one may not necessarily know much about Kibera or be terribly concerned about a slum in Sub-Saharan Africa, the reality is that slums are growing around the world and will be a major force of urban life in the future.

About this website

This website counterpart for Slum: The People of Kibera is meant to serve as a starting point for learning about the project and, more importantly, Kibera itself. It is maintained by the editor of Slum and personal friend of its author, Genesis, and will continue to expand as the project develops.