| Healers of Kibera |
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To walk through this sprawling township on a Sunday, predominantly made up of little more than corrugated scrap metal, is to walk through a sea of churches; each one proudly sporting a flag high above their congregation. One reason religion remains so important in a place like Kibera is because for many of Nairobi’s poorest it not only provides one with much needed spiritual guidance, but also provides a social safety net that would otherwise not exist. A second and much darker reason, though, for the proliferation of churches in Kibera is that like most things for the poor, religion is a commodity. During weekdays, when the offerings of one’s congregation no longer remain a viable option, many preachers in the slum turn to private healing sessions. For a fee that can range from anywhere between Ksh25/- and Ksh10,000/- healers claim to be able to do anything from cure a range of illnesses, to removing curses, and even exorcising the devil out of one’s system. The healer’s methods in Kibera seem to rest largely on Christian beliefs mixed with more traditional tribal customs. The result is a sort of quasi-Christianity, neither Christian or tribal in essence, but rather reminiscent of that in between world where so many in Kibera live. Although to many in the West the benefits of such methods of healing may appear somewhat doubtful, in Kibera there are many who believe very strongly in such practices. As a result, even as Kenya develops and more people lift themselves out of poverty, the healers of Kibera will most likely continue to receive a steady stream of patients who will choose to put their health in the hands of religion rather than Western medicine.  |
