A SYNOPSIS ON THE POST ELECTION VIOLENCE SITUATION IN MATHARE
SLUMS - NAIROBI
BY
GROOTS KENYA
JANUARY, 2008
BACKGROUND
Mathare informal settlement is situated 10 km from Kenya’s capital city – Nairobi. It has a
population of approximately 800,000 people. The slum is characterised by three categories of
housing units:
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impoverished and made of mud, waste-tin or timber lacking basic services and
infrastructure
Upgraded housing units (1 room) with relatively good infrastructure in Mathare 4A which
was a project of the German doctors and the Catholic church.
privately owned houses which include high-rise buildings usually up to four or six floors
comprising of one or two bedrooms.
Other general characteristics of this slum include poor drainage and sanitation conditions. Majority
of the residents are casual labourers working in neighbouring small towns and industrial area as
unskilled workers, guards, masons, and house helps e.t.c. A small percentage run small scale
businesses such as green groceries, mini shops, butcheries, hairdressing, barber shops, charcoal,
paraffin outlets and “slum lords” who own shanties.
The Mathare informal settlement has administration boundaries in form of villages namely Mathare
4A, Mathare Area 1, Mathare Area 2, Mathare Area 3, Bondeni, Kosovo, Huruma, Kijiji cha Chewa/
Dubai, No. 10 / Mashimoni, Ghetto, Kia Maiko and Madoya. Each of the villages has a village
elder. The slum spans across two parliamentary constituency boundaries namely, Starehe and
Kasarani constituencies under the jurisdiction two members of parliament. There are 4
predominant ethnic groups living in the informal settlement namely the Luo, Kikuyu, Kamba and
Luhya.
Ethnicity tensions and conflicts in Mathare has been a recurrent phenomenon and are often socialeconomic or politically instigated. For example In the 1990s, Mathare 4A village was upgraded by
the German doctors and the Catholic Church under the coordination of the Ministry of Public
Works. This initiative faced a lot of opposition from the community members due to the evictions
that would pave way for new infrastructures. But the worst was during the allocation process, it was
perceived that one specific tribe was favored, tension arose and actually other tribes were driven
out of this settlement. Today the upgraded houses are predominantly occupied by one ethnic
group. After the constitution referendum process in November 2005, more violence erupted
leading to the displacement of thousands of people who lost property through fire and looting. The
insecurity problem in the area has led to organized vigilante groups of young men known as the
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“Talibans” and “Mungiki” who “man” and extort money from the villages as a way of protecting
“their people” within the area. In Kosovo village, these organized groups have been forcing
residents to pay Kshs 20 per (less than a dollar) for their security. Residents who failed to pay
ended up being beaten, their property looted and razed by fire in November 2006 and once again
many people were rendered homeless and pushed to the periphery with no redress.
The 2007 post election skirmishes is just a culmination of sustained tension in the community but
the extent and impact of damage, looting, raping, sodomy, eviction and killing has never been
witnessed before. The country was hosting three presidential candidates from three ethnic tribes
Luo, Kamba and Kikuyu. Political tension and envisioned ethnic conflicts was certainly predicted
as this was the most hotly contested election in the history of Kenya. A section of the civil society
organizations had indeed proactively compelled the presidential candidates and other high level
politicians to sign peace agreements in the hope that each of them would restrain their supporters
from fighting. As early as February 2007, some parts of the country were witnessing ethnic
conflicts with killings and evictions.
The counting and announcement of results of the 2007 general election was marred with delays
accusations and suspicion among candidates and in particular the two top presidential candidate’s
sides: incumbent from Kikuyu community and his close opponent from the Luo community. Finally
the electoral commission pronounced the incumbent the winner, and immediately the violent
skirmishes erupted in many parts of the country in a scale unprecedented in Kenya before. They
were characterized by looting, torching of houses raping and killings. The target was to derive
away those tribes perceived to have supported a candidate from the “wrong” tribe other than the
one favoured by the predominant tribe in the region. Thus the Kikuyu’s were driven out from
Kisumu, Kericho and Eldoret towns while in the slums their houses were looted and burnt down
and women raped. A church in Rift valley where over 40 women and children had sheltered was
burnt down until all of them became ashes. This quickly escalated into an all out orgy of violence
which sucked in many other tribes as well as criminals who saw a ripe moment to make quick
gains. In retaliation, Luo houses were burnt and property destroyed in many areas. Other tribes
have too suffered in these conflicts particularly the Gusii people who were seen to have aligned
with the incumbent. People sought refuge in police stations and churches – but the violence
followed them there.. War and conflicts have no defined boundaries, and we see today that those
shouldering the consequences are drawn from all the Kenyan tribes which left 500 dead,
thousands injured and hundreds of thousand displaced. The property destruction and loss of
livelihood is yet to be fully accounted. What is clear though is that the poor and especially the
children and women are disproportionately affected and hence had devastating impact in the
slums, informal markets and remote rural settlements.
Today there are many camps of internally displaced persons spread all over the country full of
desperate citizens whose lives and hope have been shattered in a very short span of time.
SITUATION ANALYSIS – Impact on the work of GROOTS Kenya and members
GROOTS Kenya is a movement of women self-help groups and community organizations in
Kenya. It was formed as a response to inadequate visibility of grassroots women in development
and decision-making forums that directly impact them and their communities. GROOTS Kenya
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bridges this gap through initiatives that are community-centered and women-led. The network's
objective is to "ensure that grassroots women and their community’s are masters of their own
destiny through their direct participation in decision making processes." Thus GROOTS Kenya's
goal is to strengthen the role of grassroots women in community development by serving as a
platform for grassroots women's groups and individuals to: come together, to share their
ideas/experiences, to network and to find avenues to directly participate in decision making,
planning, and implementation of issues that affect them.
GROOTS Kenya has for the past fifteen years invested comprehensively in Mathare informal
settlement through governance and leadership programs, responses to HIV Aids pandemic
especially home based care giving with Mathare Mother’s Development Centre which is a network
of 26 self help women groups all originating from Mathare slums. The Mother’s centre provides
space for women within the slums to voice their struggles and find solutions to their problems.
In Mathare informal settlement, GROOTS Kenya has supported in the strengthening of home
based care giving amongst grassroots and marginalized women who have shouldered great
responsibility of caring and supporting their families and communities due to the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. This has been through trainings, support of the day care centre which supports 25 -35
young children daily aged 2 to 6 years. As a result of the escalating number of orphans and
vulnerable children left behind after the death of the parents to HIV/AIDS, GROOTS Kenya in
partnership with a well wisher from Sweden has supported 20 orphans and vulnerable children
through the orphan bursary support program with school fees and scholastic materials. To
upscale these efforts, GROOTS Kenya in partnership with Church World Service has also
supported 100 OVCs from 30 households in Mathare with scholastic materials, business inputs for
youth caregivers to engage in small businesses and psychosocial support to combat stigma and
isolation among the children. This year, GROOTS Kenya in partnership with Church World Service
in and is undertaking a major up scaling program that will reach 130 more OVC households
approximately over 500 children.
GROOTS Kenya has also supported the mother’s centre with the acquisition of a plot with the
support of a partner and a well wisher which they intend to construct a learning centre for all
women and their community members.
Counting the losses
Post election violence in Mathare has greatly affected families and displaced most people who are
now camping at the Eastleigh Air force base, at church compounds such as the St. Benedicts, St.
Teresa and the Soul Winning Church and at the Mathare Mothers Development Centre. Others
have sought refuge at neighbouring villages that were not highly affected.
Most of the community members and leaders in Mathare slums working in collaboration with
GROOTS Kenya are drawn from Mathare 4A , Kijiji cha Chewa , Mathare Area 1 and Ghetto. The
first three of these villages were most affected. Mathare 4A as earlier indicated is more organized
as it benefited from upgrading by the Catholic Church in partnership with the German doctors in the
1990s. The village has basic infrastructure such as tarmac roads, street lights, toilets and
bathrooms, water and decent housing made of mud bricks. These could be a part of the reason
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why not much damage happened here as communities were able to secure and protect
themselves. Neighboring Mathare 4A village is the “Kijiji cha Chewa” village dominated by the
“Kikuyu” ethnic tribe and others like Luyha and Kambas. This village was completely razed down.
Scenes of a village – “ Kijiji cha Chewa” whose which was completely razed down by
fire
The families from these villages are camping at the Soul Winning church and some at the St.
Benedicts church and are receiving food donations from the Red Cross Society of Kenya. The
Soul Winning church has over 100 families while the St. Benedicts church has 1,018 people
excluding small children approximately over 300 families. Although people are receiving food
donations, they cannot cook due to lack of cooking fuel which has escalated in price due to a
national fuel shortage. Others basic needs include lack of cooking fat, sugar, tealeaves, bathing
and laundry soap, vegetables mosquito nets as the place is infested by mosquitoes.
Belongings of some of the people now camping at the Soul Winning Church in Mathare
Other affected villages include the Ghetto village that was partially razed with fire and property
looted, Mathare Area 1 village has both privately owned condominiums and shanties has been
mostly affected where by people from a particular tribe have been chased from their homes and
their houses grabbed by a predominant tribe who have taken over the village’s security . Residents
from this village have to pay between Kshs 2000 to 10,000 ( USD 29 to 150) depending on the type
of house or business for their security.
Residents from the slum involved in a processional walk to the city centre to attend a political rally
organized to protest the results of the election were involved in a police shot out. The police shot
in the air but unfortunately shot at a live electric wire that electrocuted a young man. GROOTS
Kenya sadly later learnt hat the young man who was electrocuted was one of the youth caregivers
supported in the orphan and vulnerable children’s program. GROOTS Kenya staff has since
visited the family and supported the rest of the siblings with food stuffs.
GROOTS Kenya with the support of a well wisher from Sweden has donated over USD 1000 that
has supported in buying foodstuffs to the affected families and children within the community and
those that have taken refuge at the Mother’s centre. The affected families have been assembling
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at the Mother’s centre for food donations. Church World Service in partnership with also donated
food stuffs to affected families mostly of orphans and vulnerable children.
ANALYSIS OF AFFECTED FAMILIES LINKED TO GROOTS KENYA NETWORK
This is the situation as observed in Mathare informal settlement. However, this analysis captures
only a part of the actual situation on the ground as there are a lot of affected families not affiliated
to GROOTS Kenya network that are in need of support. More violence has erupted in Mathare
after the president announced a part of the incoming cabinet ministers in preparation for the tenth
parliament next week on Tuesday and this is an indication that these numbers may continue to
escalate if urgent measures are not taken immediately. Below is a sample of how families are
affected in Mathare informal settlement.
A spot check carried by GROOTS Kenya staff and women leaders were able to
meet the following frontline members of the organization
Household No. 1 – Jane Waithera (Home based caregiver with GROOTS Mathare Mothers
Development Centre). Jane’s house was razed down with fire and all her property damaged.
Jane Waithera – Single Mother
Paul Kimani- son to Jane and married with 4 children
Ruth Wanjiku – daughter to Jane and married with 3 children
Monicah Muthoni – daughter to Jane has 3 children
Purity Wamuyu – daughter to Jane not married has 2 children
Patrick Mwangi – son to Jane married with 2 children
Kennedy Ngure – son to Jane has a wife no children
Eric Maina – son to Jane just completed class 8 (Kenya certificate of primary education)
James Kimani - son to Jane 13 years old
Simon Kiarie – son to Jane 12 years old
Samuel Kamau – son to Jane 9 years old
Margaret Wambui – twin sister to Samuel and daughter to Jane 9 years old
Household No. 2 – Florence Wayua( Total orphan GROOTS Mathare Mothers Development
Centre). House razed down with fire.
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Florence Wayua – child household head 13 years old
Mary Kalondo – 1 year old
Margaret Mbithe – 21 years old and sells a green grocery
Ann Nthenya – Aunt to Florence, Mary and Margaret sells vegetables
Household No. 3 – Henry Muriithi (Person living with HIV/AIDS GROOTS Mathare Mothers
Development Centre)
Henry Muriithi – A person living positively with HIV/AIDS (Henry’s family deserted him after
realizing he had HIV/AIDS. He moved to Mathare at a time when his CD4 count was less than
100. Home based caregivers visited him in his dilapidated house that had a leaking roof and
began administering care and support until his CD4 count returned to normal. GROOTS Kenya
through the support of a well wisher and partner supported Henry in the construction of a tin house
in January, 2007. His house was razed with fire.
Household No. 4 – Joseph Njuguna (Living positively with HIV/AIDS/ Youth Caregiver with
GROOTS Mathare Mothers Development Centre)
Joseph Njuguna – married with a wife 28 years
Caroline Njambi – Joseph’s wife 22 years
Ryan Kimani – child 10 months
Household No.5 – Mwangi Kinuthia (support group - GROOTS Mathare Mothers
Development Centre)
Mwangi Kinuthia – He is 70 years and has 3 children
Household No. 6 – Damaris Marete (Home based caregiver GROOTS Mathare Mothers
Development Centre)
Damaris Marete – A single parent with 2 children
Household No. 7 – Rose Adhiambo (Child household head and youth caregiver GROOTS
Mathare Mothers Development Centre). Rose’s brother was electrocuted during a police
shoot out.
Rose Adhiambo – Total orphan 21 years old
Joseph Otieno – Brother to Rose 12 years old
Tabitha Akinyi– sister to Rose 13 years old
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Peris Achieng – sister to Rose 15 years old
Household No. 8 – Monicah Wanjiru (Home based caregiver GROOTS Mathare Mothers
Development Centre)
Monicah Wanjiru – Single mother has 2 children.
Household No. 9 – Grace Nyokabi ( Child household head GROOTS Mathare Mothers
Development Centre)
Grace Nyokabi – casual labourer 22 years old
Henry Kagwe – brother to Grace and casual labourer 26 years old
Robert Muriithi – brother to Grace 13 years old
N/B The staff and women leaders were only able to access a very small portion of affected families
in Mathare slums due to existing insecurity and heightened tension.
CONCLUSIONS / NEXT STEPS
GROOTS Kenya is facilitation a peace reconciliation process with the affected families in Mathare
informal settlement under the leadership of GROOTS Mathare Mothers Development Centre and
other development organizations operating within the area. This will be done through dialogues
between the provincial leaders (village elders, councillors, assistant chiefs, area chiefs and
members of parliament), affected community and other development organizations.
Over 500 orphans rely on GROOTS Kenya for direct and indirect support. The organization has not
managed to trace the whereabouts of many of these children. A group of caregivers are working
with residents of Mathare 4A and other parts of the slums that were not razed down with the hope
that they are safely hosted by other GROOTS members, friends and families. In addition, Mathare
Mothers Development Centre has been supporting over 200 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA)
over the last five years and it is still very difficult in the current situation to trace their whereabouts.
GROOTS Kenya has also visited the affected families living in the camps and has also met one of
the village elders from the affected village and discussed the possibility of holding peace dialogues.
GROOTS Kenya is facilitating a meeting between the women leaders from the mothers centre and
the affected families on Friday coming for a detailed planning process on the engagement of the
wider community and partners in these dialogue processes.
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Ultimately, the organization would wish to support affected families to reconstruct their homes with
basic infrastructure such as clear paths, security and decent affordable housing that would create a
sense of belonging and ownership to lessen such extensive damage. This would require dialogues
with the community, provincial leaders and other partners to establish land ownership processes
and in mapping out of the affected with the possibility of resettling them. Our initial step that has
already began is to establish a comprehensive peace building process in particular between the
kikuyu and Luo community to diffuse tension and animosity that is currently at its climax and may
not allow any progressive development to take place. The peace building process is fundamental
and will have to be addressed urgently prior to normal implementation of GROOTS Kenya
programs within the area.
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