Witeithie estate in Juja, Kiambu county, is well known to be a safe haven for ruthless gangsters, with the crime rate reaching an all-time high. Gaza, the most notorious gang from Kayole in Nairobi county, is feared to have relocated to Witeithie, where it is terrorising residents.
Resident Paul Njuguna, who has lived for 30 years in the estate, said the land was once owned by Greeks. It was given back to the community, subdivided into many portions and sold.
“For along time, Witeithie was underdeveloped. It was seen as a slum until recently, when commercial buildings were put up, housing people who earn Sh200 per day or less,” Njuguna said.
Njuguna recalls that the estate started being hit by crime 15 years ago, saying an increase in people moving to the area contributed to the problem. No one would want to know who was their neighbour and what one does.
“It was every man for himself, as all communities reside here. And that is when crime started in the area, as there was no law and order,” Njuguna said.
Adiel Nyange, the Kiambu police county commander, says that since he took charged, they have gunned down some of the notorious gangsters from the dreaded Gaza gang.
“We have made progress in getting some of the gang members, but it is difficult, as the residents do not share information with us,” says Nyange.
He said officers patrol daily and will get the rest of the gang, which is said to be hiding in the area.
JOBLESS YOUTHS
The estate has an estimated population of over 40,000 people, 75 per cent of them youths. It has no public utilities like health centres, playgrounds, social halls and public nursery schools. Alcoholism and bhang smoking top the social ills.
The youth unemployment rate in Kenya is still at staggering levels, despite government and private sector intervention. The UN Development Programme in a survey reported that four in every 10 Kenyan youths of working age are unemployed, making it the worst in the region. Another recently concluded survey conducted in March 2017 showed that 39.1 per cent of the Kenyan population of working age do not have jobs.
When youths are idle, they plunge into crime and other social vices, something that is not healthy for the community and the economy.
Njuguna said it is the everyday harsh situation and lack of employment and opportunities that leads the youth to indulge in alcoholism and drug taking, as no one bothers to empower them.
“You will find many young children indulging in teenage sex. No one really bothers with the youths here. Everybody fends for themselves,” Njuguna said.
TALENT SEARCH
Youthful area MCA Julius Macharia, alias Taki, is trying to change the estate through a talent search. He wants to transform the area into a talent hub.
“I know a lot of youths here. We have come from far and I know they have potential. They just need someone to hold their hands and show them they can do better for themselves, the society and the country,” Macharia said.
He set up a programme called ‘Chomoa Talanta Mtaani’, which looks for talents in youths and afterwards finds sponsorship to nurture them. The project has given many youths a platform to express themselves.
“We want to show that Witeithie is not what it is perceived to be, because we have talent. It is a hotbed of talent, and I’m glad that the youths have accepted that call to showcase their talents,” Macharia said.
The MCA was concerned his ward has no public utilities, whereas there are many bars and wines and spirits outlets. He will push for legislation to change the ways of the ward.
“There are 65 licensed bars and there are 210 more operating illegally without licences. I will not allow this. We have a law to build a health centre, nursery school playground and any other public utility required,” Macharia said.
The MCA is also seeking to use the Sh30 million Ward Development Fund, which is expected to be released in the next financial year, to build a recording studio and radio station to employ the youth.
“The old will not be left out since the county government, led by Governor Ferdinand Waititu, has programmes that will cater for their needs and also empower them economically,” Macharia said.
HIDDEN TALENTS
Rapper Chiwawa, real name Ken Mwai, also supports talented youths in the grassroots. He said through his presence on the ground, the youths feel appreciated and care to strive for more.
“During our times when we were rising to be recognised, no one was helping us or caring to see or hear what we got, but now I can go to the grassroots and encourage the youths to come out. We have talent that many have not seen and that needs a platform,” he said.
Chiwawa urged more leaders to support talents, and not for political gain but a sincere need to help out the youths.
“You never know who is watching, and we need leaders who can give the youths that platform. At the moment they are using social media to present what they got and it is not enough. Many who have talents may not know how the social media works to their advantage, and their talents can be stolen or copy-pasted,” Chiwawa said.
Chiwawa believes in the grassroots there is best of everything, as there are dancers, rappers, poets, acrobats, models and many others, whose talents are untapped and can be used to do good.
“If only in every village there would be a talent search, you will realise how much our youths have potential, and this is what we need to tap before it goes to waste,” Chiwawa said.
Artist Daniel Kinyanjui said he has been painting and selling his work to the locals for over 10 years, and he has never gotten a platform where he can showcase his talent.
“This is a good and encouraging opportunity for us who have talents, as now people have seen what I can do. Most think that I buy the paintings and come to sell them,” he said.
Kinyanjui said he sells his paintings for Sh1,000-Sh2,000, which he uses to fend for his family. His challenges include not selling the paintings for a week.
“Every job has its up and downs, and I can go for long without selling my work. Also, most do not appreciate local talents and want to buy from the shops, whose paintings are processed,” Kinyanjui said.
Kinyanjui hopes that someday, he will catch the eye of someone who will appreciate his talent, as he believes he can do more, let alone paint on board, but can also do interior designing with painting on wall.
CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM
Poet Eric Munene, alias Manucho, hopes to inspire the youth. His messages aim to promote peace and motivate the youths.
“I want to use my talent to reach out to my brothers and sisters to come out and grab the opportunities that will help their lives be better, and also to tell them there is no life in crime or alcoholism and drug taking,” he said.
Youth for Change champion Stella Kiruku tries to help the youth through social media.
“We are reaching out to our fellow youths through social media platforms, where one can start a clean hustle of uploading talents so they can empower themselves financially,” she said.
Many youths are optimistic that their talents will be noticed and want to make a turnaround in their lives.
Talent development in Kenya has been hampered by inadequate access to quality training facilities and equipment. National and county governments don’t adequately fund utilities that support and showcase talents. So Witeithie’s move is a step in the right direction.