Mukuru residents celebrate father figure who founded famous slum

He was chairman of the slum for more than 60 years, and no project could be done without his involvement.

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Many Nairobi residents have probably heard about Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum in Embakasi South Constituency. But perhaps few know the origins of the name and why a neighbouring slum was named Mukuru kwa Reuben. ‘Mukuru’ which means valley or quarry in kikuyu, is one of the largest informal settlements in Kenya. It is divided into two by a railway line – carving out Mukuru Kwa Reuben to the west and Mukuru Kwa Njenga to the east. But behind the name of the expansive slum or village (kijiji) as residents call it, lies the story of Simon Mwenda Njenga Kariuki, who died last week on his way to hospital. He was buried on Wednesday at Lang’ata Cemetery.