Chocolate City is the name of Kibera used by its inhabitants which refers to the brown colour which dominates the landscape. Some Kibera residents were given cameras in order to take photographs of the slum. They are presented above with fieldnotes from Kibera tours as descriptions.
Kibera is called “the city of opportunities”. Each year many Kenyans seeking job opportunities come to Nairobi. Everybody is trying different activities in order to make a living.
Foto: Dan Karunga
Many Kibera inhabitants instead of cooking buy already prepared meals. On the street you can buy chapati, mandazi, samosas, chips, bajiya (fried potatoes), fried meat and corn.
Foto: Lucas Omulo Raloo
We have in Kibera three kinds of houses, from mad, from ironsheet and concrete houses. The rent varies depending on the material as well as the size of the house.
Foto: Evans Majera
According to the government we have half a million inhabitants, because the government must explain somehow its lack of interest in this place, according to NGOs we are one milion and a half because they have to justify their presence in this place. In reality we are one milion.
Foto: Evans Majera
Inhabitants engage in various activities in order to make their living. Women are selling vegetables, used clothes or chapati and mandazi they prepared. Man work at construction sites, drive cars or work as carpenters or repair electronic equipment. The woman in the photo repairs shoes.
Foto: Lucas Omulo Raloo
Fried fish are sold on the street. Many inhabitants of Kibera have strong ties with the place they come from. They visit their homeland several times a year. They bring with them meat, fish, chickens and various vegetables and fruits.
Foto: Harrison Ochieng
„Chocolate city” is an expression used by Kibera inhabitants. It refers to brown roofs and brown soil which dominate Kibera’s landscape.
Foto: Martin Akunya
There are buses and what is referred to as “matatu” (mini buses) going from Kibera to the city center of Nairobi. Many people use the train which passes twice a day through Kibera.
Foto: Lucas Omulo Raloo
TOI market situated in Kibera is one of the biggest in Nairobi. According to Kibera tour guides: “you can buy there everything apart from guns and cars”
Foto: Martin Akunya
Many Kibera inhabitants connect to electricity illegally. As they say: “we do not steal, we spread opportunities”.
Foto: Martin Akunya
Many inhabitants of Kibera connect to electricity illegally – as you can see in this photo, which causes a lot of fire.
Foto: Dan Karunga
“Lower Karen” is a different term for Kibera. It refers to Karen, neighbouring district with Kibera, where the richest Kenyans live.
Foto: Martin Akunya