Korogocho slum is located in Kasarani district, 11 km north-east of Central Business District of Kenya’s Capital City, Nairobi. Korogocho borders Dandora which is the main dump site of the city and lies on a stone formation between Gitathuru River reserve in the in the North and Nairobi River reserve in the south of the slum settlement.
Korogocho started to attract quarry workers in 1960s while its current settlement pattern was formed during the 1980’s when it attracted slum dwellers evicted from more central areas.
Poverty among the people of Korogocho contributes to insufficient and inadequate nutrition thus worsening people’s vulnerability to poor health. According to World Bank Poverty Assessment, in Kenya People who are considered poor spend 70% of their income on food, with the poorest 20% spending even more. This is a significant amount, especially when considering that prices of essential foods like maize flour have gone up drastically, nearly doubling since 2021. For example, a kilogram of maize flour went from costing around Kes.120 to Kes.270. This steep rise in prices, combined with a decrease in people’s incomes, has worsened the poverty situation in the country, making it harder for many to afford necessities. The urban poor living in informal settlements are especially affected by rising poverty levels.
In response, the Catholic Workers Movement – Kenya (CWM-K) promotes decent work and strengthening social cohesion among the people of Korogocho. CWM-K trains vulnerable teenage girls and women to acquire skills that makes them positive agents of social transformation. CWM-K enhances social justice for economy of life through skills acquisition for girls who then work and earn some income to enhance their wellbeing.
Young girls and women at RICEP College of Hair Dressing and Beauty located in Korogocho slum, Nairobi, Kenya
Report By:
Justus N. Wanyama
Deputy National Chairperson CWM-Kenya