Growth of Shanty Town Slums

The result was the rapid and enormous growth of shantytowns, or slums, as we call them in Nairobi. Along the Ngong River, which flows between the Industrial Area of Nairobi and South B, huge slums sprung up in the late seventies and early eighties. People running away from the wars in Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, Sudan and within Kenya itself, people running away from hunger due to drought in Machakos and Kitui, and people running away after being evicted from the Mathari and Kibera slums to make way for high rise apartments, all came into the Industrial area and constructed temporary dwellings. Some adapted quickly to city life, finding casual work and surviving quite well. Most eked out a miserable existence by scavenging for all sorts of waste materials that could be sold. These ones barely made enough money to get shelter and food. Certainly there no money left over for medical services or education.