The culture of poverty; a visit to Rhoda slum

Hilton slums near Gioto dumpsite in London Ward, Nakuru County, on June 18, 2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Last week, I accompanied a friend and his family on one of their philanthropic visits to a school tucked deep in Rhoda slum, Nakuru. What I witnessed was not just poverty-it was a heartbreaking culture of deprivation embedded in every crevice of that community.

Poverty there does not hide. It walks openly, confidently-almost as if it has taken permanent residence. The Gilani family, well-known for their quiet but impactful acts of kindness, has for years been donating school uniforms to needy children. On that day, we visited a local primary school, home to about 2,500 pupils. Walking through the dusty compound and into the overcrowded classrooms, it was clear that hope fights hard to survive.