HISTORY

The history of mathare slum is a long story for example there is a man known as Joseph macharia githutha who came in mathare in 1968 and in those days most parts of mathare were covered by bushes. Houses were made of small corrugated tins. During this time many people were migrating from their rural home to city centre in such for jobs and majority of them settled in the slum as they could not afford to settle in already made flats.

SCHOOLS:

There were only two primary schools named Mathari old &St teresa primary school, and one secondary named pumwani. Many people were unable to cater for their kids fees problem and this led to many school dropouts or high dependancy on missionary support.

THE POPULATION:

The population was not high as the total was about 20,000 compared to the present 500,000 which has been greatly attributed by urbanrural migration in seach for either jobs or better living conditions

THE CHURCHES:

In early 60s the Roman catholic was the only popularly known church in the slum which was later followed by redeemed church.

THE SQUATTERS.

At the moment there is a heated debate on what to do with the increasing number of people settling down in the slum.

THE ACHIEVEMENTS:

Mathare slum has produced many great people in different fields of specialization in our society and still has the potential of producing many.