As told to Judy Akele Waguma

Irene Anyango

Anyango aspires to be a lawyer when she grows up. Nothing strange with that, one would say. On the surface, it would appear that the aspiration of the class six pupil at Kicoshep Primary School in Kibera is just another of those puerile fantasies and dreams common in urban child growing up in the crowded Kibera slums.

At her tender age, the 11-year old girl has witnessed and experienced injustices in equal measure that have fortified her resolve that only legal training can save her community from the injustices that surround her. 

“I want to be a lawyer,” says the class six pupil with conviction, “I want to represent all those people who are innocently arrested and harassed by the police for the simple reason that they live in Kibera.” 

“I want to see to it that the rule of law is upheld by all, whether by State actors or ordinary people; the rich, the poor and everybody else. All that can be achieved through a functional justice system that is fair to all.” 

Anyango is one of the pupils from the Kibera slums who participated in the Conflict and Mitigation workshop organized by African Woman and Child in Kibera. This was a forum for all students in the selected regions to air their opinions and share their experiences of the post election violence that engulfed Kenya early in the year. 

From the workshop’s proceedings, it would appear the ghoulish events of January and February have had a deep psychological effect to the children growing up in the slum  

Owing to their individual experiences of the post election violence and what they witnessed. 

During the period of violence she lost her paternal uncle in the skirmishes that rocked Kibera slums and witnessed a man being lynched after he was caught stealing from a local butchery. 

She was also present when her neighbour’s seven-month old baby died after inhaling tear gas fumes that engulfed the area as the police fought off marauding gangs of youths who were rioting in protest of the results of last year’s presidential election. 

Anyango lives with her parents, George and Rosemary Odhiambo in Fiesta area, sharing a part of the sprawling slum with criminals and notorious youth gangs. On her way to school on some mornings, Anyango says she sometimes comes across mutilated corpses sprawled by the pathways – the victims of insecurity and violence. 

“There is no peace in this part of the world,” she says, her faces registering the inner turmoil she faces as a slum child, “There are far too many thieves and the place is simply too dangerous,” she explains. 

For Anyango being a lawyer would ensure that all the bad guys are caught and that there is a safe heaven in Kibera.