“Umekuja mapema!” A girl whispered to her friend who had walked in late as she sat down beside her. Those who heard her tried to suppress their laughter which earned them sharp glares and low hushes from other members. They were listening to a talk on career guidance by Jaji, a former Mathare dweller, during the Maji Mazuri Youth Group meeting which was going on at the Main Hall. The talk brought together youth from Mathare, Huruma, Eastleigh, and the Barracks.
“High grades should not be an obstacle to achieving what you want. Do not dwell on failures. When you are kicking the ball in a match no one thinks of your grade. Be realistic. A liar cannot be an accountant and you cannot be a criminal if you do not engage in crime. Do not be the boy who gets married to a woman in Runda for her money. Strive for your own, believe in what you do and you will get what you want.” Jaji encouraged.
From the Main Hall, a shelter of wooden beams supported mabatis standing at a small clearing, one could see the vast red rooftops that made the Mathare Valley, known to many as the ‘Valley of Death’. The loud crackling noises the clean shiny iron sheets made as it contracted and expanded in the high heat of the hot sun, that was a result of Nairobi’s unpredictable weather, reminded Nelson Mandela, the Group’s Member representative, of gun shots that took place during the post-election violence that erupted at the slum four years ago. He looked impassive as he relayed the tale just a few minutes before the meeting began. His stance and confidence exuded the strong stamina the great leader of the most southern country in Africa he was named after possessed.
Nelson Mandela, like his world famous namesake, had seen the place he grew up in face the most vicious and gruesome period since the country got its independence. He watched as the gang from Mathare South took the opportunity to beat up young people of Mathare North. The years of rivalry they had between them reached its peak when the crisis broke out. The violent emotions that was pent up over the years burst out as friends and neighbors wield pangas and axes, knocking down crooked doors to the small shanties that had for years offered little protection from cold and thieves, baying for blood. He watched as women cried for mercy at their slayers for being what they were and stumbled on pieces of body parts as he tried to evade lashes of gleaming pangas. He was lucky to have survived. He knew it.
This became reason why the Stop the Bullet! Peace Project was established as the core activity that the Maji Mazuri Youth Group. The most recent peace initiative was a screening by the Ghetto Film Trust at the slum that captured what happened during the full blown violence. The highly emotional event motivated the youth to ensure peace in the slum. In place are some strategies that the Group will undertake to ensure peace during and after the elections next year.
“In the next project, Maji Mazuri plans to work with Simama Pamoja Initiative (SPI) to paint walls and roofs to preach messages of peace. Beautiful paintings with words like ‘Amani’, ‘Umoja’, ‘Ushirikiano’ and ‘Upendo’ will soon replace the worn out dirty rusted mabati roofs that portrays a dark murky valley that it is known to be.” Victor Kebane, the Group’s chairman explained. “We hope the words will reach not only the Youth but Kenyans in general to be one nation.”
The Group also focuses on key issues such as education, talent, community development, economic empowerment and mental health. It was started by Madam Wanjiku Kironyo who originally intended it for young girls who had had children by rape and molestation and simply put, were hungry. The Maji Mazuri umbrella also included a micro business loan program, head start school, two academic institutions and an organic farm. Wanjiku's dream has always been to make a genuine difference in her homeland but it was the sight of an old woman hanging onto the feeble rafters of her crumbling shack to escape the forceful flood of an unexpected downpour that sparked her into immediate and irreversible action.
The youth Group was proof of her success. The weekly talks at the main Hall was geared to bring about peace in the Valley.
On further interaction on a heart to heart session among themselves during the Career Guidance talk with some of them, I realize that they are not only neglected, overlooked and forgotten, but other members of the society also shun, insult and shoot disgusted looks when they interact with them. In sheng, they discuss how it feels when they look for jobs or deliver messages or equipment in big prestigious offices they rarely get past security without being frisked and rapid whispered calls being made to confirm appointments. How security guards ‘interrogate’ them when they see sophisticated laptops, mobile phones or kindles in their bags when they enter many institutions.
How in matatus, wadhii clutch to their bags, phones and are afraid to remove their wallets to pay for the fare for fear that they will rob them. How when they introduce themselves and where they come from they can literally see the shudders and fears on the people’s faces. How their women gave up on education and turned to prostitution. Many have come to accept and have learnt to live with these harsh injustices. They have come to form their own groups where they can fit in.
The young slum dwellers who have succeeded to go through university by some miracle never forget where they come from. Many, like Jaji, come to give talks to groups such as these. “It is unfair sometimes to watch your rich classmates spend huge amounts of money on alcohol when I cannot afford a textbook.”
I remembered how I was direly warned that if I must go to Mathare I should dress shabbily so I don’t stand out, not carry a bag and make sure I leave before dark. As I partook in the clean-up and garbage collection programs that they held every Saturday, I realized that these beliefs were nothing but stereotypes. The zeal and burst of energy of the people of Mathare as they went about their normal duties was much like any in Nairobi’s Central Business District, Karen shopping Center and South C Shopping Center.
It was identified that most people who partook in the violence were young people. Many Kenyans continue to ask questions that have yet to yield any answers. Unemployment is usually mentioned as the main reason. We will probably never find the answer but one thing that stands clear is that the youth, especially those living in stringent poverty, are a neglected marginalized group.
Unifying groups like Maji Mazuri provides a forum where Mathare youth discuss, educate advice, inform, encourage, learn, develop and work out their pent-up frustrations. “Maji Mazuri is the reason why I have developed such high self-esteem. I cherish it because it has opened avenues for me in my life. My experience as a leader has sharpened my decision making skills and has helped developed my self-confidence.” Such projects discourage violence, drug abuse and criminal activities and helps make Mathare Valley the Valley of Life.
Victor ends the interview with a few lines that tells of his life experience:
Ghetto
Glad to be raised here, skills are born from here
Harmless we are here, contrary to what you hear
Endless success stories from here, the pages we can't tear
Too many challenges we face here, we hit them with a spear
To the top we rise with no fear, we see this from year to year
Our hopes so high, in the ghetto we always have an idea
Story by Catherine Chumo
