Slum insider : Mathare, Nairobi / edited by Liveinslums

Mathare is the second largest slum of the city, after Kibera. According to various informants, and the data collected by NGOs in the area, this slum is home to a population of about 500,000 inhabitants and covers about 1.5 square kilometres. Mathare is located about ten kilometres north of downtown along the Juia Road, near to the district of Eastleigh and to the military air base. This settlement is developed within a valley crossed by the Mathare River which divides the area in two parts: Mathare Valley and Mathare North. Is divided into several villages: Bondeni, Kosovo, Mathare 4B, Mathare Numeber 10, Mathare 3A, Mathare 3C, Mabatini and Mashimoni Village. Before the independence, achieved in 1963, the Asians who lived in the territory possessed an area known as Mathare, where they had built, around 1921, a small village. When, in 1952, the State of Emergency was declared, the area was razed by the British colonists, who were convinced that it was a stronghold of the rebel Mau Mau group. Subsequently, the Mau Mau, which consisted mainly of Kikuyu, were able to return to Mathare where they settled permanently. Afterwards in this area a quarry was discovered, which began to attract workers from various areas near to Nairobi and where they began to build the first houses - since during the colonial period the Africans were not allowed to reside in the city. With the end of colonialism the and later with the abolition of the laws, that restricted the movement of the natives, began a massive migration from rural areas to the city.