Mathare

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Mathare is a collection of slums in Nairobi, Kenya with a population of approximately 500,000 people;^[1] the population of Mathare Valley alone, the oldest of the slums that make up Mathare, is 180,000 people.^[2] Mathare is the home of football team Mathare United.^[3]

[edit] Gang violence

In 2006, Mathare was damaged by violence between rival gangs the Taliban (not to be confused with the Islamist group of the same name), a Luo group, and the Mungiki, a Kikuyu group.^[1] Brewers of an illegal alcoholic drink, chang'aa, asked the Taliban for help after the Mungiki tried to raise their taxes on the drink; since then, fighting between the two has led to the burning of hundreds of homes and at least 10 deaths.^[1] Police entered the slum on November 7, 2006, and the military arrived a day later, but many residents who fled are still afraid to return.^[1]

On June 5, 2007, the Mungiki murdered two police officers in Mathare; the same night, police retaliated by killing 22 people and detaining around 100.^[4]

Following the controversial presidential elections that took place on December 27, 2007, Luo gangs burned more than 100 homes.^[5]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gettleman, Jeffrey. "Chased by Gang Violence, Residents Flee Kenyan Slum", The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 2006-11-10. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
^ Mathare Valley, Nairobi. ghettoradio.omroep.nl. Ghetto Radio. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
^ Mathare United. Mathare United Football Club. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
^ "Police in Kenya Kill 22 in Gun Battles Over Sect", The New York Times, Associated Press, republished by the The New York Times Company, 2007-06-07. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
^ Jeffrey Gettleman, "Disputed Vote Plunges Kenya Into Bloodshed", The New York Times, December 31, 2007.