Reality of Life in Kibera
Extreme Poverty
Water & Sanitation
Extreme Poverty
- Most families in Kibera live on less than $2 a day.
- Many parents cannot afford enough food, school fees, or medical care.
- Children often go to bed hungry, surviving on one meal a day or less.
Housing
Water & Sanitation
Extreme Poverty
- Families of five to eight people may live in a single small room made of mud walls and tin roofs.
- There is no adequate ventilation, which increases the spread of illness and disease .
- Fires spread easily due to being packed so close together.
Water & Sanitation
Water & Sanitation
Water & Sanitation
- Many residents must buy water from vendors who charge extremely high prices.
- Open sewage drains run between homes, spreading disease.
- Public toilets are few and cost money — forcing some to use plastic bags (“flying toilets”) that are later thrown into open areas.
Healthcare
Unemployment & Crime
Water & Sanitation
- Children commonly suffer from malnutrition, diarrhea, and respiratory infections.
- Typhoid, cholera, malaria, and HIV/AIDS remain serious threats.
- Hospitals are far away or too expensive — some rely only on small community clinics or traditional healers.
Education
Unemployment & Crime
Unemployment & Crime
- Many children drop out of school because families can’t pay fees or need them to contribute via work.
- Classrooms are overcrowded, and schools lack books, electricity and proper sanitation.
- Many children grow up without learning to read or write.
Unemployment & Crime
Unemployment & Crime
Unemployment & Crime
- Youth unemployment is extremely high — many survive through odd jobs, selling goods, or collecting garbage.
- Frustration and lack of opportunity lead some to crime, drug use, or early pregnancy.
- Insecurity is a constant fear, especially at night.