Story Archives of 'Kenya'

On a previous Word of Mouth, we spoke with NPR’s Eric Weiner about the growing trend of slum tourism where Westerners pay to visit the townships of Johannesburg, the settlements along the landfills of Mexico City, and see people living off the garbage piles in the slums of Mumbai.

Severe weather, drought and pests can mean the difference between a bumper crop and a lean harvest for a farmer. In Kenya, farmers also face a much bigger threat. Herds of elephants, sometimes ten-deep, are known to break through wire fences and forage on young crops.

Mathare is one of the largest and most notorious slums in Nairobi, Kenya - and the world. Outsiders rarely hear about life for its 500,000 residents other than crime and poverty. Until now. When post-election violence shook Kenya last year, a group of aspiring young journalists picked up cameras instead of arms and began broadcasting “Slum TV”.