Billian Okoth was born and raised in Mathare, from experience he knows how it is to go to school dressed in a torn uniform. Ficha Uchi is a Kiswahili phrase meaning ‘cover your nakedness’. This campaign started with an aim to provide uniforms for children in Mathare slums. Edinah Bakora brings this inspiring story.

One of the most popular jobs for women in Kenya is working in a hair salon. Or even better having your own. With the trainings of  Paul Mangi, salon entrepreneur, ‘the ladies are guaranteed of a job’, he tells. They learn about the new styles their clients want, about the latest fashions of weaving styles. You […]

Watch the upcoming music band Eidala from Kariobangi, formed by leadsingers Sharon and Tess and their band. ‘With our songs we express our feelings about the issues in our communities.’ As an upcoming band they rehearse at ‘VOCAL’, a studio in the slums, where they can borrow instruments and meet other musicians. Eidala played at  the ‘Music Of the People’ Event. An event […]

Join me, your host Ursula Akinyi, as we tour the slums to tell you more about hairstyles. Don’t we all want a gorgeous hairstyle? Dreadlocks, shavings, plaiting, hairstyles inspired by magazines, TV or the streets. Millicent Awuor is a salonist who works at her doorstep. Her clients, Kariobangi residents, like her plaiting. Great styles at […]

African Slum Journal creates a platform for giving the slums a voice and a face. We, young reporters from the slums tell you these captivating real life stories about situations that affect the people in the slums positively or negatively. Stories from Mukuru, the ‘valley’ dumpsite for industrial waste. Kibera, the biggest slum in Kenya. […]

When you are smart but live in the slums with little means, can you get to university? Robert, a carpenter, worked all days but saturdays. On saturdays he was going to university to become a civil engineer. But the costs were too high. Boniface Ajwak’s dream is to become a doctor. His family, friends and […]

Pets are common in the slums. For prevention, like a cat keeps rats out of your house, or safety reasons just like the dogs of the youth group in Kariobangi slums. Also people keep them for friendship and company. Frei Wamale shows us the way to take care of pets: a proper diet, good training […]