Kawangware (Nairobi, Kenya)
Life in Kawangware
Wedged between two affluent suburbs, Kawangware is one of Nairobi, Kenya’s informal settlements. With more than 130,000 people crammed into a space of just 3 km, the community is diverse and includes residents from more than 10 different tribes. Many of the homes are makeshift, created out of corrugated iron sheets and most lack indoor running water. Instead, residents buy bottled drinking water, use public toilets and showers, and draw water from community wells. Only 1/3 of the adult residents have full-time employment and the majority struggle to earn the equivalent of even a dollar a day.
In Kawangware, extreme hardship is everywhere and many people have turned to drugs to help them cope with traumatic pasts and current realities. Safety for women is a grave concern and the lack of income opportunities force too many women into commercial sex work.
Healthcare is not always stable or accessible. Diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, waterborne illnesses, and malaria are common. Health clinics help diagnose and treat illnesses, but medications are too expensive for many people. Water scarcity and poor infrastructure make these problems worse.
The people of Kawangware have an unwavering strength and capacity to support one another. They rely heavily on community organizations and mutual aid networks to distribute resources and ensure essential services reach those in need. Organizations like Badilika Uishi are at the forefront, mobilizing resources, providing education, and connections to healthcare. Through their work, they help residents improve their quality of life and create more possibilities for their future.
