Mji wa Huruma ("place of mercy") is a small slum surrounded by upscale homes, Karura forest and foreign embassy homes. There are close to 5,000 people existing in an area a little larger the NACC's total grounds (7 acres) living in shacks usually made of tin and whatever scrap materials they are able to salvage from the local estates' garbage. There is little to no room for farming. The people lost their coffee plantation jobs and a place to live when the surrounding plantations where sold for upscale housing. In 1979 government granted the people the present piece of ground "out of mercy" where they have struggled to make a living ever since. It is estimated that the unemployment rate in Huruma is 90%. Those that do find work find temporary work doing odd jobs, mostly in coffee, house cleaning, gardening and unskilled construction. The people are a homogenous community in that most are Kikuyu, one the largest tribes in Kenya. (history by Suzan)
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