**BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT MATHARE SLUMS**
Mathare informal settlement is the second largest informal settlement in Kenya, following Kibera. With a long-standing history, it currently houses approximately 206,564 residents, as indicated by the National Housing and Population Census (2019). Nairobi's Mathare stands as Kenya's most densely populated area, with 68,941 people per square kilometer, starkly contrasting the national average of merely 82 people per square kilometer. This represents the highest population density among sub-counties in Nairobi and across Kenya.
The settlement comprises numerous structures that are densely packed, often constructed without adherence to spatial planning guidelines. Many residents engage in informal employment both within Mathare and in surrounding neighborhoods.
Mathare is divided into 13 villages, which serve as units for data analysis. These villages include Kiamutisya, Village 1/Mlango Kubwa, Kosovo, Village 2, Mathare 3A, Mathare 3B, Mathare 3C, Mathare 4A, Mathare 4B, Mashimoni (including Mashimoni Village 10), Kwa Kariuki, Gitathuru, and Mabatini. Due to inadequate access to sanitation facilities, affordable healthcare, and sustainable job opportunities, residents are highly vulnerable to health, economic, and social shocks.
The high density in Mlango Kubwa is primarily attributed to the concentration of tenement housing in that area. Other regions showcase a mix of tenements and shacks; notably, areas dominated by tenement housing exhibit the highest population densities in Nairobi. According to the 2019 census, the Huruma sub-location spans 0.7 square kilometers and is home to 75,498 individuals, resulting in a staggering density of 106,445 persons per square kilometer.
As a low-income settlement, Mathare grapples with numerous social and health challenges, including cholera outbreaks, gang violence, and the collapse of buildings due to unplanned developments, which have denied residents access to essential amenities.
Most areas in Mathare remain unconnected to clean drinking water infrastructure, and the absence of sewage systems has led to high-rise buildings discharging wastewater directly into the Nairobi River.
Additionally, collusion between land officials and private individuals has resulted in the illegal sale of public spaces in Mathare, including land designated for road expansion, riverbanks, and public amenities.
Residents of Mathare lack access to basic necessities such as clean water, electricity, roads, and waste disposal services. High rates of unemployment and precarious employment leave many families struggling to meet their primary needs. Like most informal settlements, residents do not own their homes or land, leading to their exclusion from government programs. The dilapidated shacks are constructed from scrap wood, corrugated metal sheets, and plastic tarps, with sewage flowing through unpaved streets where children play barefoot. Illness is prevalent, yet residents lack access to affordable healthcare. Employment opportunities are scarce, resulting in increased rates of drug abuse, alcoholism, and crime. Family structures often break down, and children frequently find themselves on the streets.
The crisis of inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding, limited resources, and poor sanitation is further compounded by a high burden of disease and morbidity, marked by significant levels of malnutrition among children and the elderly, along with elevated rates of communicable diseases like typhoid, malaria, dysentery, and tuberculosis. Most families are unable to afford medical care, and healthcare facilities are limited, poorly equipped, and understaffed.
