Mathare is a collection of slums in Nairobi, Kenya with a population of approximately 500,000 people;^[1] the population of Mathare Valley alone, the oldest of the slums that make up Mathare, is 180,000 people.^[2] Mathare is the home of football team Mathare United.^[3]

[edit] Gang violence

In 2006, Mathare was damaged by violence between rival gangs the Taliban (not to be confused with the Islamist group of the same name), a Luo group, and the Mungiki, a Kikuyu group.^[1] Brewers of an illegal alcoholic drink, chang'aa, asked the Taliban for help after the Mungiki tried to raise their taxes on the drink; since then, fighting between the two has led to the burning of hundreds of homes and at least 10 deaths.^[1] Police entered the slum on November 7, 2006, and the military arrived a day later, but many residents who fled are still afraid to return.^[1]

On June 5, 2007, the Mungiki murdered two police officers in Mathare; the same night, police retaliated by killing 22 people and detaining around 100.^[4]

Following the controversial presidential elections that took place on December 27, 2007, gangs of Kikuyu and Luo youth engaged in violent fights and burned more than 100 homes.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Jawabu Africa -This organization exists to serve at-risk young people in Mathare slums
• Mathare Valley Outreach
• Mathare Youth Sports Association
• Nairobi Slums School Projects Trust
• The Mwelu Foundation - Grass-roots youth project centering on photography
• Mathare leader working on establishing further social changes in Mathare
• Mercy Care Centre
• Made in the Streets

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Coordinates: 1°15′36″S 36°51′43″E / 1.26°S 36.86194°E / -1.26; 36.86194