The Mukuru slum consists of approximately 30 villages and is home to over 700,000 people. Most of these people have left their rural homes because of poverty and came to the city in the hope of finding work.
Some are successful but the majority, being unskilled and uneducated, remain jobless. They live in very poor shacks made from cardboard or plastic materials while those who are a little better off have shelters made from corrugated iron sheets. These one-roomed shelters are approximately 3m x 3m and have no sanitation or running water. There is no waste collection and most of it goes directly into the nearby Ngong River.
About 60% of Nairobi’s population live in slum conditions. Slum dwellers pay their rent to the landlords who “own” the land. The amount varies from US $12-25 per month depending on the location of the house. There is no space for children to play. There are no recreation facilities for adults or children with the exception of bars, video shops and pool tables. Many turn to local brew, drugs and crime. Against this background, MPC is making an impact implementing a range of programs including Education, Health and Social Development and Rehabilitation in collaboration with the Mukuru community.