Standing on the edge of Mathare Valley (the oldest slum in Nairobi), you can look down on a vast area 2 two kilometres in length, crammed with tiny shacks.
They stand back to back, each measuring about 8ft by 6ft and usually housing over 10 people. The slum is home to over 500,000 people. Nairobi river flows through the heart of the slum.
By the time the river has reached Mathare Valley it has collected all kinds of rubbish and debris along the way. This river provides the only water source and, as can be expected, is the cause of much disease and death. The inhabitants of Mathare Valley are mostly unemployed; there is not enough work available. As a consequence this area has become renowned for being a home to criminals, drug addicts and prostitutes.
