Community First Aid Kits

Walking through any urban informal settlement an outsider will see ‘disaster waiting happen’ scenes. Looking at small children playing cooking games with fire, women washing clothes in dirty river, haphazard crossing of Juja Road, open electric wires, possibility of being mugged in dark place,  regular fire outbreaks and people living next to big rocks. The dangers posed broken sewer and open ones are even great incase of major disease outbreak. All these are scenes one will encounter while walking in Mathare.

There have been cases of fire outbreaks which led to loss of life and this was contributed by lack of access road in the inner parts of the community; There are no emergency numbers readily available in the community that people can call for assistance. When assistance is called it takes longer than usual since most people will expect community leaders to be the person to call.

Those who gets injured through various activities both good and back have to seek assistance in far places since the health centres near the community do not operate of 24 hrs basis. This mean that if a disaster strikes at night then it is most likely that number of causalities will be very high compared with day time. Availing first aid kits in strategic points within the community can help reduce number of casualities.  While there has been investments in improving infrastructure, very little has been done to deal with disaster. Having emergency telephone/mobile number people can all and erecting first aid centre can help reduce the number of causalities.  – Simon

Drug trafficking in Matharevalley Schools

Primary school students in slums are being used to traffic drugs. This was revealed by various teachers and other education stake holders based in Mathare. It is emerging that some parents and guardians have forced school children to engage in drug trafficking during schools holidays and other free days.

Speaking to map mathare, mathare north primary government School Head Teacher, Mr. James onyango noted that the most affected are the girls. He also noted that the most commonly abused drug in the slum is chang’aa. “The pupils are forced by their parents and guardians to sell the illicit liquor and other drugs to the slum dwellers,” he complains.

The head teacher further noted an incident involving one of the girls in the school who had been sexually abused and kidnapped by her mother’s drug clients. Though the community rescued the minor, the mother has been reluctant to press any charges against the abuser, afraid to lose business.”I wrote a letter to the police informing them of the incident but no action was taken. It is alleged that the mother owes a lot of money to the kidnapper and that’s the reason she is afraid of confronting him,” he alleges.

onyango added that such cases of sexual abuse are common in the slums especially when the children are involved in drug trafficking. As a result, many pupils have been forced out of school because they have slowly turned to drug abuse while others prefer to continue with their parents’ trade. While the girls are forced to give birth at an early age as a result of sexual abuse, most of the boys end up as hard core criminals. These children learn at an early age how to earn easy money through drug trafficking. As a result, they drop out of school and turn to crime to be able to sustain their economic needs. Joyce, a teacher, has decried the low moral standard which has led to child abuse by relatives and family friends. She noted that there is need to sensitize parents and guardians on the importance of education and respect for children rights.

However, the teachers were quick to add that the main reasons for the failure to protect the rights of children are lack of education, and poverty among the parents and guardians. They are therefore calling upon the government to put in place stricter laws to ensure that children from both poor and rich backgrounds are protected against such kind of abuses:-javin

Urban IDPs, Forgotten Lot

Mabatini, Huruma Corner and Kiamaiko were some of the hot spots of 2008 post election violence in Mathare which resulted to setting up of a camp for internally displaced persons at Mathare chief’s camp. The IDPs were from Mathare 3c, Mabatini and Mashimoni areas.

Today former IDPs held a demonstration to protest what they term as a case of them being forgotten or neglected by the government and NGOs. One of the leader of IDPs from Mathare lamented that while in other areas (Rift Valley) IDPs had been resettled or their -plight addressed unlike those from urban areas like Mathare had been forgotten.

Most IDPs I interviewed expressed concern that ‘the IDPs from Rift Vallye are being favoured while those from Mathare have been forgotten’.

After the confirmation of ICC case, IDPs from Mathare felt that nobody was addressing their plight or compensation package. A woman who was part of the demonstration said ‘the ICC case has become more to do with Ruto and Uhuru than victims of post of election violence like us. The government has rushed to form a team to look into Uhuru and Muthaura’s case but not about the IDPs’. This motivated IDPs today to match to Marthare District Offices to seek audience over the matter of compensation. The previous space which was occupied by IDPS had now been turned into urban farming demonstration centre for the community to address food insecurity in Mathare. – Simon

Violence and Weapons of Mass Destruction

Mathare 3C: Violence victim at Kenyatta National Hospital

Mathare 3C is well known for brewing of chan’gaa and on several occasion for eruption of violence. On 15^th January 2012 rumours had it that 16 pangas had brought into the community in readiness for the announcement from Hague. In another section of the community, small traders located opposite Moi Air Base are living in fear of possible eviction from the site. Reason? Several soldiers have been attacked by criminals hiding in the nearby slums. Small traders are waiting for possible eviction anytime from now. Traders from different ethnic background have decided to deal with criminal and they have formed a group to keep vigil and ensure no more thieve will operate in their zone.

Elsewhere women are discussing increased insecurity in the area whereby their husbands have been attacked by criminals on their way from work

In the evening of 15^th January 2012; local leaders, small traders, administration and senior police officers have organized a meeting to discuss the escalating insecurity and tension in the area and also looking at the rumours about the pangas. Why did someone bring 16 pangs?

After meeting that night, violence erupted.  Five people who actively contributed and participated in the security meeting are attacked. They are left bleeding and nursing serious wounds after being attacked. Two people are admitted in intensive care unit (ICU). A few community members come forward to donate blood.

The following morning tension is high and the real reason behind the violence has been overlooked and distorted. The area MP, Hon Margaret Wanjiru appears on the scene…as usual being a politician she politicize the whole issue. The criminals who were being pursued by traders turn it into tribal war. From the above scenario it is becoming evident that gangs are emerging and insecurity is slowly creeping in. At the end of it all weapons of mass destruction to watch out as we approach elections are; rumours, politicization of issues, stones, pangas/machete, tribalism, fire and forceful eviction. -  Simon

MATHARE 2012 PERSPECTIVE

2012 will not be an ordinary year for Mathare residents. There is boundary review and the forth coming general elections. This will change overall power relation between the people and local administration. We shall also witness emergence of new leaders; will they follow and be guided by the constitution? let us wait and see. A place like Huruma will now be divided into two if the proposal goes through.

There will be need for the government to invest more in health, road, sewer, security, education and stimulating local economy. Chang’aa has been legalized, how will the local leadership transform this sector from informal to formal industry? How will the local community monitor and hold its leaders accountable. These are only but a few issues that must be addressed in Mathare.

Civic education forums needs to be established if we are to avoid post election violence as witnessed in 2007/2008.

The good news that has come out of the boundary review is the mention of approximate population of Mathare which according to Independent Electrol and Boundary Commission (IEBC) is as follows

Proposed Mathare Constituency
Mlango Kubwa- ward	20463
Mabatini – ward	48723
Huruma A – ward	36248
Huruma B – ward	36247
Kiamaiko – ward	33824
	175,505

Previously people estimated the population. Now it is upon Mathare residents to appear before the commission and share their view regarding the boundary. It is these views that will help shape a better Mathare.-Simon

Road Accidents Along Juja Road Mathare No 10

Killer building in mathare

Electricity: Safety in Mathare

Transformer on fire along Juja Road

Every week, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company workers are usually accompanied by two uniformed police to inspect illegal connection in the slum. Along Juja Road, there are more than 10 transformers which serves a very large population. Today (21/3/2011) was a bad day as a transformer burst into flames along Juja Road near Kiboro Primary School. More than 500 houses will go without electricity for a few days. The helpless members of the community were forced to just look from a far while pondering when it will be replaced. One of the hallmarks of living in slums is time taken to respond to emergencies. Before the officials from KPLC and City Council of Nairobi Fire Brigade responded to the emergency call, the fire had already consumed nearly 90% of the transformer.

The demand for lighting houses Mathare Valley is increasing everyday. People depend on paraffin to light their homes despite environment hazard posed by inhaling fumes from the kerosene.

Those who can afford electricity, share it out with their friends though illegal connection. It is these connections that the Kenya Power and Lighting Company workers and uniformed police are trying to locate for arrest. Today’s fire on the transformer is being blamed on overloading. This shows that there is demand for power by the community but only a few have access to it genuinely. If I was KPLC, I would lower the connection fee and create incentives for people to have power before it is too late. KPLC should learn from what happened to Kenya Posts and Tele Communication Ltd given that very soon we might have a second operator in the power sector. – Simon

Eviction: Life Goes On

Children playing with water, broken pipe

Jane Waithera has been a resident of Njagwani for the last five years and now his life about to end. She will be attending court hearing together with other residents to pursue justice against an eviction notice issued by the National Youth Service. When I visited Jane together with her two daughters it was quite allover an indication of both sadness and abandonment. A place that had 5000 residents now has about 1000 people who live in fear of possible being bulldozed at night. Small children are the most affected as they are lonely.

Water is the biggest problem in the area. The broken pipes run close to the open drainage thus exposing residents to possibility of disease outbreak. There are no shops operating for fear of being attacked and minimal customer. Tomorrow I will visit the area at night so that I can see for myself how people are coping.

Jane believes that having Prof. Yash on their side, they stand a chance of winning the case. Where do 5000 people go? That was her last words to me before disappearing to fetch water for her family. – Simon

IDPs in Kenya, Delayed Justice

Mathare Valley

As the Kenyan government officials are shuttling through African capitals seeking and lobbying for support for the deferral of case against the Ocampo Six, little attention is being given to the victims of post election violence especially from urban communities. This is according to Erick Kioko Wayua, 28, who lost left arm during the 2008 post election violence.

On the night of January 17^th 2008 Erick Kioko, 28 will never forget losing his left hand in post election violence that rocked Mathare Valley. He had just gone back into the valley with a group of other young men to keep vigil protecting their properties from being stolen as the valley had been deserted.  Many families had been camping outside the Moi Airbase gate in Eastleigh after being attacked when 2007 election results were announced.

On January 17^th 2008 at 9 pm he was attacked and his left hand chopped off. He managed to run for his life leaving behind a whole arm. At this time he was bleeding seriously and fainted in the process. It was very chaotic when he arrived at the IDP camp as there were other people with equally serious injuries. But this shocked other IDPs to him bleeding and without one arm.  Some youth offered to go back into the valley and look for the missing arm.

Women started crying and requested for assistance from the soldiers manning the gate. After consulting, they finally accepted and rushed him to Kenyatta National Hospital. Erick arrived at the Kenyatta National Hospital accompanied by a friend. They arrived at the hospital 10 pm on the night of 17/1/2008 only to be attended to early morning at 2 am (18/1/2008). The doctor recommended that he be admitted. When he woke up from his condition, it dawn on him that he will never see his arm again.

Back in the valley, his friends managed to find the missing arm and brought it back to the IDP camp. The following day it was talk of the day and this ignited more violence for revenge. The situation got out of hand and the camp was also attacked.

After a few days, Erick attracted attention from both the media and NGOs who were working in Mathare Valley to assist victims of post election. Anytime time a visitor would come to the camp, they were told about his case to emphasize the magnitude of the problem faced by IDPs. According to Erick very little attention was given to counsel and prepare him or other IDPs for future life after the post election violence.

Erick feels that very little attention was given by the NGOs and authorities to prepare urban IDPs for future life after ‘peace’ had returned. While he values peace, Erick does not have peace of mind when nobody cares and show concern about him and other 2008 IDPS. “Elections are a source of misery but not a better future” concludes.

As I retreat to back into the deeper community his story lingers in my mind and about the real meaning of democracy, peaceful elections, human rights and good governance for the African people. – simon