History of Mathare

Location

Mathare valley is situated in the northern part of Nairobi city. It covers an area of 157 hectares starting from Pangani slopes to Gitathuru river. The valley is enclosed by Pangani on the West. On the north it is enclosed by the police depot, Mathare primary school and Mathare mental hospital. To the south it borders Juja road that separates it from Eastleigh. To the east it borders Huruma estate.

How It Begun

Research by Helen G.B (1980) indicates that before 1950s Mathare valley was predominantly owned by Asians who used to extract stones (brown) for building. It was later allocated to carrier corps who had earlier been settled in today’s Kariokor market.

In the late 1950s it was dominated by “mau mau” freedom fighters who used to hide weapons and conduct oathing ceremonies there. There were only a few authorized houses in the area due to lack of proper sanitation and refuse disposal. After independence, there were many people who were left landless and without shelter and most of them came to Nairobi to look for employment. Unfortunately, there were no readily available jobs. This forced some to go back home while those who had no shelter and no land settled in Mathare valley that was government-unutilized land. They erected shanties that could be built at a minimal cost, to serve as shelters while still looking for employment. They also took casual work in industries and building construction sites. Some started brewing commercial changaa and busaa (illicit brews). Others started small food kiosks, green grocers and hawking. Another group which inhibited the area since independence are youngsters who migrated from rural areas to Nairobi, in search of jobs. They were frustrated by lack of employment in industries and constructions sites. They could not afford to pay more costly houses in other estates and hence they settle in slums where cheap houses were readily available. Some of the group who never went back to rural areas started small businesses in slums, others engaged in illegal brewing and selling of illicit brews, bhang, others took up robbery with violence, while others took up prostitution.