This archive report was first published on 12 September 2021.
Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, has a rich history dating back to 1899 when it started as a railway depot. Over time, it evolved into a colonial administration centre and eventually a commercial and regional hub.
However, the city's growth was not without its challenges. Informal settlements arose in parallel, driven by demand for housing and fueled by colonial policies that excluded local people from permanent residence.
Today, the names of these informal settlements serve as a voice for their residents, capturing the politics, culture, and challenges of the people who live there. In this episode of Pasha, Gemma Ware chats with Melissa Wanjiru-Mwita, a lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, about the origins of these names.
According to Wanjiru-Mwita, place names are a reflection of the city's history and the people who shaped it. She notes that the names of areas in informal settlements often tell a story of the challenges faced by residents.
As Wanjiru-Mwita explains, 'Kosovo, the name of an area in an informal settlement.' (Photo by Mélissa Wanjiru)
Music: 'Happy African Village' by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0.
Published on September 12, 2021.
