The reality of at least one person dying each day was such an harrowing notion, yet it became so normalized that the police would not even investigate further.
Reflecting on the writer Zito Madu's question regarding recourse for society's marginalized, the disintegration of the Wanakolo community near the Jamhuri Railway Station illustrates the enduring human cost of uncoordinated urban development. The normalization of daily tragedies and the lack of systemic answers regarding homelessness highlight a deep societal resignation that persists without the mobilization seen in other movements.
Every morning, passing over the railway lines toward the better looking Jamhuri area feels faulty, especially if you know what lies on the far left side. The reality of at least one person dying each day was such an harrowing notion, yet it became so normalized that the police would not even investigate further.
933nane.JPG1.69 MBThe Wanakolo Community had formed gradually after intense demolitions tore through sections of the slum. Homes, local businesses, and community schools were leveled to clear land for urban upgrading projects. Today, located near the Jamhuri Railway Station, Wanakolo stands as a living testament to the human cost of uncoordinated urban development.Most shelters here are makeshift tents, crudely constructed out of recycled polypropylene bags and discarded plastic canvas. They offer little protection against Nairobi’s heavy rains or the toxic smoke constantly rising from the burning refuse.This is a deep societal issue, yet people haven't risen up against it the way they do other unjust systematic issues such as police brutality. Instead, it seems to have become a perennial tradition, evoking the same recurring conversations each time, with no concrete plans. I saw people ready to languish; in the face of tragedy, their ideals had shifted, and they lived their lives completely disregarding any concern for individual futures. There is a persistent feeling that there are no clear answers about homelessness, nor any blueprint for how those affected are supposed to behave.
Correction:
Since the Wanakolo Family has already been shifted from this area, the project we started working on early has changed. Currently, the Wanakolo community is already disintegrated and scattered into various other areas due to the expansion of the Railway line. I want to trace them and see how they navigate these new environments, and this article lays that groundwork.
