Mathare Valley

Mathare Valley is the oldest and, with around 500,000 inhabitants, the second largest slum in Nairobi. The people here live under adverse conditions in makeshift corrugated iron huts in very confined spaces without running water or a sewage system. There are very few paved roads and only unstable power lines. Despite the extremely basic living conditions, people pay a not inconsiderable rent for their dwellings. As children and young people often have to contribute to the cost of living or look after younger siblings instead of going to school, the illiteracy rate in Mathare is unusually high.