KENYA The name Nairobi is derived from Maasai and means ‘a place of cool waters’. This refers to the Nairobi River that flows through the city. Many of the interventions Dreamtown has supported in Kenya in 2022 have been located along this river. Our key focus has been to transform the riverbanks into green and recreational public spaces. To support this vision, we have deepened the collaboration with our long-term partner Public Space Network across the three communities of Korogocho, Dandora and Kamukunji. We have also embarked on a brand-new partnership with Mathare Social Justice Centre, which is a youth driven organisation working in Mathare. Below is an overview of our biggest achievements in Nairobi for 2022.
In Kamukunji we have supported the rehabilitation of Kamukunji Park. Despite the park is considered a national heritage site, and one of the few largescale parks in Nairobi, the park had fallen into disuse and become a hotspot for crime. In 2022 we have supported a large network of youth groups to join forces and transform the park into a green and safe haven in the buzzing downtown. A space where children from the surrounding communities can have fun, and the vendors from the nearby market can take a break and relax in the cool shade of a tree. In Korogocho an amazing youth group called Komb Green is on a mission to clean up the Nairobi River, remove the mountains of garbage on the riverbanks, and create a river front park that connects all the riverine communities of Nairobi. In 2022 we have supported Komb Green to further their dream. This includes extending their park up the river, and mobilising youth groups from neighbouring communities downstream to also embark on transforming the riverbanks.
In Dandora children and young people have very few spaces to play. One of the few open spaces that exists is the power leave-way. This land was gradually being grabbed by private interest. In 2022 we have supported the community to access and develop this land. The space is now being transformed into a massive recreational park with sports facilities. While our work in Mathare has just started, our dreams are big. In 2022 we have established a new partnership with Mathare Social Justice Centre, mobilised youth groups from across the community, and identified 4 spaces along the river, that will be transformed into green parks. We can wait to see these green dreams come alive in 2023.
Wanjira Mzalendo is one of the leading members of Mathare Social Justice Centre (MSJC) - a youth driven initiative promoting a Mathare free of human rights violations. Mathare is one of the oldest informal settlements in Nairobi. Dreamtown and MSJC started a new partnership in 2022, focused on ecological justice in Mathare. In the year to come the dream is to develop 4 green parks spread across the community.