Kibera Africa's 2nd Largest Slum

Saturday I went with Pastor Alfred & Pastor Shuls to Kibera. It took several matatus to get to the other side of Nairobi. Kibera is Africa's second largest slum with a population of one million people. Walking steadily down into Kibera we are met by people coming and going. Shops & stands line both sides of the street. Pots, pans,veggies, flip flops, material, anything you might needs lines the walk way. We walk down, down, down and further into Kibera.

We find the railroad tracks and begin to walk them. We are not alone as the tracks are used for a main path with more shops, stands and homes only steps away from the rail. You will feel the ground tremble when the train gets close. There is a ditch with drainage flowing that runs parallel to the tracks. An electric wire that sparks when it rains is laid on top of the ground for miles.

Goats and chickens search for food in the mounds of garbage. There isn't one blade of grass to be seen. Rubbish covers the earth beneath my feet and is displayed around me. Strategically placed rocks are a must to cross the bubbling brooks of waste.

Children run with happy faces to reach out and touch me. They are anxious to try out their one phrase of English on me. "How are you?" comes from all sides. They are surprised and pleased to hear me answer them in Kiswahili.

We walk passed the charred and demolished homes burnt during the political uprising. We have traveled through many small and narrow alley ways. We have entered through three foot tall entrances to visit and pray with people. We spent time with a woman with HIV who cares for many orphans in Kibera.

The hot sun beats down on us and we are refreshed with soda and sweet bread.

We move on to a church in Kibera where I speaked to a HIV/AIDS group. Many in the group ask for prayer before before we leave.

Night is upon us and we find the tracks. With many others we begin the long walk. As we journey out and we find ourselves on higher ground you can look out over the roof tops of Kibera. They are so close and so many it appears that it is one massive piece of sheet metal.

I look to the other side and view the rich green grass of a golf course.