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Community: Real Life

The Slums of Kibera


Ivy Maina was born and educated in Kenya. She is currently on ActionAid's 'Get on Board' epic bus journey from Johannesburg to Scotland. Collecting messages from African people to take to the G8 summit in Edinburgh in July, Ivy reports back to TheSite on her experiences along the way.
Entry: 4
Date: 20/05/2005

On her way to the G8 summit, Ivy gets to talk to some of Africa's most disadvantaged people in the slums of Kibera in Kenya.

I have been to the slums of Kibera in Kenya before, but every visit sparks feelings of guilt and despair. I feel guilty when I complain about my relatively trivial problems; I have a roof over my head and eat three square meals a day. The people in Kibera live in severely overcrowded conditions with no access to clean water, sanitation or electricity and live on one meal a day. This environment is a hotbed for crime, prostitution, rape and other forms of abuse. I have been given the chance to talk to some of the people in the slum about life in Kibera.

I made a visit to the slums and spoke to members of Ushirika wa Usafi, a community-based organisation that aims to bring proper sanitation facilities and security to Kibera.

I spoke to Mary Munene, a 94-year-old activist, who despite her age was full of energy and passion. She was proud to be a part of the organisation and being 94 did not stop her from digging trenches and collecting garbage in Ushirika's massive clean-up exercise. "In Kibera we have many problems. We live like trees planted on water. Recently we were told that we would be moved, but where could we move to with our children?" she cried.

We later paid a visit to her home, which was a one-roomed earthen house with a corrugated iron roof, no piped water or electricity. There was a bed sheet hanging from the ceiling separating the kitchen from the living area. Mary introduced us to Lillian, her 25-year-old granddaughter who lost both her parents to HIV/Aids in 2003.

"I am the first born in a family of eight children. I need to care for the rest of the family by doing any job I can find," Lillian said. She also has an 11-year-old daughter called Virginia. Unfortunately, Virginia was struck with meningitis a few years ago, which affected her brain and joints. This condition also left her mentally impaired and incontinent.

"The health sector needs more funding, especially for preventable diseases like malaria, pneumonia and meningitis."

Listening to Lillian talk about her life was one of the saddest moments of my journey. I knew I could never truly understand what Lillian, Virginia, Mary and the rest of their family go through every day. Neither would I know what it means to go hungry or live in a one-room house with seven other people. I do not know what it means to be driven to crime or prostitution as a means of feeding my family. 

If the world leaders really want to do justice to these families then they must see Mary and Lillian as they see their own families. They must cancel all debts and allow governments to invest in education and health. Universal primary education is commendable but education programs should extend to adult literacy for all.

There is also a greater need for the investment and support of people with special needs, so people like Virginia can receive early and relevant training and live a productive life. If health services were easily accessible, cheaper and efficient, Virginia would not have the problems she has now.

The health sector needs more funding, especially for preventable diseases like malaria, pneumonia and meningitis. This in turn could also support the fight against HIV/Aids, as many sufferers usually succumb to HIV-related illnesses like pneumonia.

It is my aim to clear the path for Lillian and her family by sending this story to the G8 leaders. I cannot fail Lillian. The G8 must help her and thousands like her and they must help them now.


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