Exploring factors that predispose Mathare slum dwellers to Violence

Abstract

Violence has dominated the lives of Nairobi slum dwellers in the recent past, thereby exposing them to a lot of suffering and loss of lives and property. This study was carried out in Mathare slum with the overall objective of exploring the factors that predispose Nairobi slum dwellers to violence. The study was guided by Marxist theory and the theory of relative deprivation. The study examined the predominant forms of violence in the slum, assessed the extent to which economic deprivation predisposes slum dwellers to violence and determine the role of ethnopolitical competition in predisposing Mathare slum dwellers to violence. The study employed a descriptive and cross-sectional research design. Simple random sampling method was used to obtain 120 respondents from the study population. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) computer software and the findings presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. On the other hand, noncomputerized qualitative methods were used to analyze data obtained through focus group discussions and key informant interview. These data were analyzed thematically and interpreted on the basis of the study objectives. Verbatim reporting was used to present some of the qualitative findings. Physical assault is the predominant form of violence in the slum. In the study, the majority of the respondents had been attacked in one way qr knew people who had been victims of violence. Most of the respondents admitted the existence of ethnic violence in Mathare slum. They acknowledged that politicians play a major role in promoting ethnic violence in the slum. Politicians according to the findings of this study, contribute to violence by funding the activities of perpetrators of violence or by inciting members of the public against one another. From the findings, the majority of the respondents earned less than Kshs 5 000 in a month. Due to low income, violence related to rent is common and many of the respondents admitted to have either clashed with their landlordsllandladies or knew someone who had been involved in such clashes. From the findings, the majority of the respondents indicated that males are the leading perpetrators of violence of which a half were youth below the age of 30 years. Based on the above findings, it is thus recommended that the rent dispute tribunal should work closely with viii the slum inhabitants in order to reduce cases of violence arising from rent disputes. The government through the ministry of Sports and Youth Development should give priority to the youths in the slums when distributing funds set aside to empower the youth. This will be a good source of capital to start businesses and provide self employment. ix