For some, the name Kibra conjures up images of an informal settlement and the negative attributes linked to low-income urban areas. But for the over one million people that call this place home, Kibra is a place with a vibrant community spirit. It is home to many hard-working Kenyans who take pride in their roots. And for the Nubi community who were the first settlers of the region, the name Kibra is a reminder of the history of this area and its evolution through the years.
The Kings’ African Rifles
On 1st January 1902, the British government formed The Kings’ African Rifles (KAR). It comprised of several battalions located in different East African countries; each of these battalions comprised of African men, simply referred to as askaris, who voluntarily took up arms to fight for and beside the British. The Sudanese recruited into the KAR were stationed on the outskirts of Nairobi to guard the newly constructed East Africa railway. In 1911, as part of a pension scheme, the government gave the askaris 5,000 acres of valuable land within the area where they first settled to use as they wished. As the area had many trees, the askaris named it Kibra, the Nubi word for forest.
In 1917 Kibra was surveyed and the following year it was gazetted as a Military Reserve. While the colonial government initially agreed that the askaris were owed for their service and agreed to the disbursement of land, there was some hesitancy and reluctance towards having Africans settle in a zone that had previously been marked as one for European residential holdings.
A Growing Community
By the 1920s, the settlement in Kibra had grown beyond a population of ageing veterans into a dynamic community. This growth occurred due to the intermarriages between the Nubi community and local Kenyan communities. At their cost, the residents built and maintained their houses and set up farms. The Military Authority helped them build a place of worship – which was a mosque as the population was predominantly Muslim, a school and a cemetery. These projects were supplemented with the appointment of a religious leader (Kadhi) and a principal. In 1928 the Civil Authority took over administration of Kibra.
The continuously growing community could not be ignored, especially by the colonial government. Attempt to relocate the residents began in 1936. The Sudanese who had no native reserve in Kenya to which they could be repatriated made them strongly resist these eviction attempts. They maintained that the government gave them the land.
Intentional Neglect
In 1937, most of the springs in the nearby Ngong Road Forest Reserve ran dry. The community put in a request for a permanent water supply, but the colonial government turned them down. They instead offered to assist any residents to move to a different native location. This intentional neglect was an attempt to force out the community by making Kibra unlivable.
This went on till the mid 1940s when Kibra, with a population of over 2000, became formally established as an African Village under the recommendation of the town planning team. In this way, Kibra, though near some European suburbs, escaped demolition. However, in a bid to show one last muscle of power, the government classified Nubians as people who did not belong to any native community, and fully neglected the development of the area into an African suburb.
Kibra’s population grew until the resources of the area could no longer support the community. So began the decline into an informal settlement.
Kibra Post-Independence
When Kenya gained independence in 1963, the independence government rendered Kibra an unauthorized settlement. Demolitions began in a bid to evict residents from the area, yet they offered no compensation. It also meant that the government did not need to provide amenities such as roads and electricity in the area. This caused further decline of the state of Kibra. Despite this, the population continued to grow as many Kenyans from rural areas moved to the capital in search of jobs.
Today, Kibra is one of the most densely populated informal settlements in the world. There are 13 villages in Kibra: Kianda, Soweto West, Raila, Gatwekera, Kisumu Ndogo, Makina, Kichinjio, Kambi Muru, Mashimoni, Lindi, Laini Saba, Silanga and Soweto East. Each of these villages has unique features that distinguish it from the rest. Laini Saba, for instance, has a railway line that passes through the area.
Community Spirit
Despite the large population of Kibra, there is a real sense of community among the area residents. People look out for each other and find ways to support one another. It is this strong community connection that makes area residents proud to identify as Kibra locals.
Kiberians, what else makes this neighbourhood so wonderful? Any distinct features of the other villages worth sharing? Share your stories with us!
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