Kibera, one of the larger informal settlements in Kenya is an excellent case study of the way that urban space in Nairobi has long been contested terrain, since it the first Sudanese soldiers settled there in 1911 (Parsons 1997).
The government had given a space inside of Nairobi, near the Army barracks, to some Sudanese soldiers who had served in the King’s African Rifles (KAR). Populations like the Sudanese were often used during the early colonial conquests, from the 1880s through the turn of the century. Using “native” soldiers from different locations on the continent was cheaper and more efficient than sending massive numbers of troops to the continent (Parsons 1997).
After fighting in WWI these soldiers 74 settled in Nairobi; they were displaced from their Sudanese home and did not fit the criteria of a native population for the Kenyan colony either. These “detribalized” Africans, as they were known, were given a parcel of land, called Kibera, to call their own until they died. After these soldiers died the government would take the land back, but over the next several years there was a massive influx into Kibera by Africans from other “native” ethnic groups (Parsons 2007). They settled in Kibera because it was viewed as a place within the city limits that was outside of colonial control.
By the late 1930s the soldiers of Kibera were asked to fight again for the crown in the Second World War, further entrenching the colonial government into a relationship with the Sudanese detribalized natives in Nairobi.
Ni nini na ubishi ka mshipa wa mavi. I know what im saying you doorknob. Fotii as its known ni kwa chikuyu,olympic kwa wajaka,then makina kwa wanubi. Wale waliomoka time za mathree waliupgrade to Ayany…ingia makina mosque uulize ghaseer
3km from fortii ni ngong forest ama adams unataka kuniambia wewe ni mtu ya leafy burbs na akili ya mwihoko?
Ingia Ayany hse E15 ulizia mimi hapo upewe uhondo ,dago naijua tu kupitia
Kibich, hii ni ile ghetto nilijua nikiwa 3 years. my aunties and uncles who claimed o have lived in nairobi. iyo time sisi tukiwa ushago materials lived in Kibera
Nowadays there are more Luhyas in Kibera than Luos. The Kisii are also a growing force in Kibera and especially Langata. The Somali are slowly but surely moving into local businesses and politics. Will be interesting to see how the elections pan out for the MP seat.
Naona watu was ayany mko hapa kwa wingi… extremely familiar with the area from lineA-Z in the 80s and 90s…wa e15 cheza chini…the last house on that court was a senior police officer and opposite was an acholi family.
unaongelea Abong’o,he became commish i guess alafu watoto wakamea pembe kuruka,kwanza ma dame line E ilikua no go zone kwa wahalifu,ulikua unaeza acha mlango wazi na uishie safari.Opposite kwa abong’o ilikua the OG’s Simba Wanyika,the band group’s family.I remember a kid called shilingi. So i bet unakumbuka grace msalame pale C5 maboys tukipiga kambi:D:D:D
najua wote:D…wueh,you know me too well umetaja jina moja and he’s my kassin aiseh .victoria namkumbuka tu jina,sura imepotea. sugar alikua kama big brother.nilipatana na yeye kitu 7 or more years ago,sauti yake ndio ilinijulisha:D:D