Mathare

Mathare
Name	Mathare
Settlement type	Informal settlement
Country	Kenya
County	Nairobi County
Population estimate	500,000–700,000
Coordinates	1°15′S 36°50′E

Mathare is an informal settlement in Nairobi County, Kenya, known for dense housing, vibrant informal markets, and active community organizations. It has a long history of grassroots activism, urban migration patterns, and public health challenges linked to high population density and limited formal infrastructure. The area is a focal point for studies by institutions and NGOs addressing urban poverty, housing rights, and participatory development.

History

The area experienced rapid growth during the colonial period as part of labour recruitment linked to the Uganda Railway and subsequent urbanization that drew migrants from regions such as Kikuyu, Kamba, and Luo communities. Post-independence policies such as the Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965 and land allocation patterns influenced settlement expansion, while events including the 1992 and 2007–2008 post-election crises reshaped local politics and community security. Activists and organizations like Muungano wa Wanavijiji, Slum Dwellers International, and individuals such as Wangeci Njuguna (community organizers) have a documented presence in advocacy for tenure rights and slum upgrading. Academic researchers from University of Nairobi, Kenya Medical Research Institute, and international partners including University College London have published studies on social dynamics and informal economies in the settlement.

Geography and Layout

The settlement lies northeast of Nairobi Central Business District near transport corridors like the Thika Road and the Nairobi River catchment. Topography includes low-lying flood-prone valleys and steeper ridgelines adjacent to neighborhoods such as Kibera, Eastlands, and Parklands. Key landmarks and informal hubs include markets proximate to Dandora dumpsite, road junctions linking to Muthaiga, and peri-urban interfaces with estates like Starehe. Spatial patterns reflect narrow alleys, compound clustering, and informal extensions along drainage channels feeding into the Nairobi Dam catchment.

Demographics

The population comprises diverse ethnic groups including Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba, Luhya, and Kisii migrants, as well as internal migrants from counties such as Migori and Kitui. Age structure skews young with a high proportion of residents under 30, affecting demand for services from institutions like Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and youth programs run by UNICEF partners. Household sizes vary; livelihoods and remittance flows link residents to towns such as Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret. Civil society actors including GrassrootsWomenInitiative and networks aligned with Kenya Red Cross Society engage in demographic and vulnerability mapping.

Economy and Livelihoods

Economic activity centers on informal markets, small-scale retail, artisanal trades, and service provision to commuters traveling to Nairobi Central Business District and industrial zones like Industrial Area. Common livelihoods include street vending near bus termini serving Public Service Vehicles, casual construction linked to projects by firms contracting with Nairobi City County, and microenterprise supported by savings groups associated with organizations like Kenya Women Microfinance Bank and Equity Bank outreach programs. The proximity to Dandora supports recycling and waste-picking livelihoods, while digital entrepreneurship initiatives by partners such as Safaricom, Google community programs, and JamboPay pilots aim to expand mobile money and e-commerce participation.

Housing and Infrastructure

Housing consists predominantly of informal single-room units constructed from corrugated iron, timber, and masonry; compound arrangements reflect incremental housing upgrades seen in comparative studies of Kibera and Korogocho. Infrastructure provision is often informal: water access via kiosks operated by private vendors regulated by Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company; sanitation includes pit latrines and community toilets supported intermittently by World Bank projects and municipal contractors. Energy access relies on grid connections, illegal hookups, charcoal and kerosene, with electrification interventions by Kenya Power and Lighting Company and NGO pilots to reduce unsafe wiring. Transport depends on footpaths and matatu routes linking to Githurai and Thika Road corridors.

Social Issues and Public Health

Public health challenges include communicable diseases such as cholera outbreaks historically linked to contamination in the Nairobi River system, high rates of respiratory and waterborne illnesses, and maternal and child health burdens addressed by clinics supported by Kenya Medical Research Institute and World Health Organization interventions. Social issues include youth unemployment, crime patterns scrutinized by National Police Service initiatives, and electoral mobilization during national contests like the 2013 Kenyan general election and 2017 Kenyan general election. NGOs such as Amref Health Africa, Médecins Sans Frontières, and community groups provide vaccination campaigns, HIV/AIDS programs in partnership with National AIDS Control Council, and mental health services linked to trauma from periods of post-election violence.

Community Organizations and Development Initiatives

A dense network of community-based organizations such as Muungano wa Wanavijiji, Slum Dwellers International, Akiba Mashinani Trust, and faith-based groups including Catholic Church (Kenya), Anglican Church of Kenya, and Presbyterian Church of East Africa coordinate savings groups, sanitation campaigns, and tenure regularization efforts. Donors and development partners like United Nations Human Settlements Programme, World Bank, UNICEF, and private foundations collaborate with local leaders and academic partners from University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University on slum upgrading pilots, microfinance expansion, and participatory mapping projects. Notable initiatives include community-led enumeration, savings and credit schemes with support from Muungano Support Trust, and legal aid clinics linked to Kenya Human Rights Commission.

Category:Populated places in Nairobi County