KIBERA SLUM

BBSI: Kibera Slum

Kibera Slum

Kibera slum is one of the largest slums in East Africa. Kibera is roughly 1.5 – 2 square miles and has a population of over one million. The average size of  homes are 10ft by 10ft.  Almost all the buildings are built without building regulations and on average 5 people live in each home.

Basic infrastructure such as electricity, clean water, washroom facilities and sewage disposal is minimal and it is estimated that there is one pit latrine for every 50 – 500 people.  The image to your right shows clearly the type of housing (shacks) that people live in and the white items scattered on the ground are plastic bags filled with human waste, these are known as “flying toilets” where residents literally use these bags as a toilet which are then disposed of by simply throwing them on the ground.

Food, clean water, medical attention, toilets, employment are just some of the things that are hard to come by in Kibera. Disease is of a very high proportion and it is becoming increasingly worse.

 

Kibera Slum

Half of Kibera’s population are children under 15 years of age. Appallingly, many children who are born in Kibera die in Kibera only knowing the harsh life of the slums. The children themselves are very vulnerable and face peril every day from the brutal conditions of the slum.

Not only do they battle starvation, malnutrition and diseases, but they also face dangers from other residents in the slum such as exploitation, substance abuse, physical, sexual and mental abuse and gang violence.

Every day is an enormous struggle for survival; with the realisation of knowing that each day they live may well be their last.