Korogocho
| Korogocho | |
|---|---|
| informal settlement (currently being upgraded by NYS) | |
| Nickname(s): Koch | |
 Nairobi slums locations |
|
 Korogocho
|
|
| Coordinates: 01°13′00″S 36°55′00″E / 1.21667°S 36.91667°ECoordinates: 01°13′00″S 36°55′00″E / 1.21667°S 36.91667°E | |
| Province | Nairobi Province |
| District | Nairobi East |
| Division | Kasarani |
| Location | Korogocho |
| settled | 1960s |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.5 km2 (0.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,603 m (5,262 ft) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 150,000 |
| • Density | 100,000/km2 (260,000/sq mi) |
| est. | |
Korogocho is one of the largest slum neighbourhoods of Nairobi, Kenya. Home to 150,000 to 200,000 people pressed into 1.5 square kilometres, northeast of the city centre, Korogocho was founded as a shanty town on the then outskirts of the city.
In 2009 it was estimated to be the fourth largest slum in Nairobi, after Kibera, Mathare Valley and Mukuru kwa Njenga.
The name Korogocho is a Swahili term meaning crowded shoulder to shoulder.
Located 11 kilometres northeast of the Nairobi city centre, Korogocho's 1-1.5 square kilometres were originally on government owned land which was a vacant outskirt when it was founded by rural migrants to the city in the 1960s. It borders one of Nairobi's main rubbish dumps, Dandora. The slum is a "Location" (a formal subdivision) of Kasarani division, Nairobi Province, and is divided into seven "villages": Highridge, Grogan, Ngomongo, Ngunyumu, Githaturu, Kisumu Ndogo/Nyayo and Korogocho.
As Korogocho expanded, it grew onto private land, and almost half its land is now owned privately.
Korogocho residents come from more than thirty ethnic groups, although most are from the Kikuyu, Luo, and Luhya peoples.
There is little formal infrastructure serving Korogocho's residents. Most housing was built by families living there, and is made of found or recycled materials. Despite this, many of the residents pay land rent for the right to live there. Others pay rent to those who have constructed their habitations. There is no central sewer system, piped fresh water, and crime rates are high. An informal council of elders and chieftaincy, like that found in much of Kenya, also provides land and housing for some widows and others in greater need.
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Wikipedia