New Push for Mathare Renewal as Gibendi Champions Inclusive Urban Change

Hon Edgar Gibendi, a 2027 parliamentary aspirant for Mathare Constituency, is advocating for a bold and people-driven transformation agenda aimed at uplifting living standards across all Mathare, with special focus on long-neglected areas such as Mabatini Ward

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In his recent engagements with senior national leaders, including Deputy President , Nairobi Woman Representative , and other stakeholders, Gibendi emphasized that Mathare’s long-standing challenges require urgent, coordinated, and practical solutions rather than political rhetoric.

At the core of his agenda is the transformation of housing and urban living conditions.

He strongly supports the affordable housing program but insists that residents must be protected from displacement and instead given priority in ownership, relocation planning, and benefit-sharing. He believes that dignified housing is the foundation of restoring hope in Mathare.

Gibendi also places strong emphasis on economic empowerment, particularly for young people and small-scale traders. His vision includes establishing youth enterprise hubs, expanding vocational training opportunities, and creating pathways to sustainable employment. He argues that reducing unemployment is key to addressing crime, poverty, and dependency in informal settlements.

On infrastructure,

he is calling for major upgrades in roads, drainage systems, clean water access, electricity, and waste management. He notes that decades of neglect have left areas like Mabatini Ward lagging behind, with living conditions resembling past decades despite being part of a modern capital city.

Education and healthcare are also central to his agenda. He supports upgrading schools, strengthening community health centers, and expanding scholarship and mentorship programs to empower the next generation.

Gibendi further stresses the importance of security and governance reforms, including community policing and accountability mechanisms to ensure leaders remain answerable to residents.

Aligning with President ’s remarks expressing concern over the conditions in Mabatini and commitment to upgrading informal settlements, Gibendi has called for faster implementation, transparency, and meaningful community participation.

His overall mess

age is clear: Mathare must transition from neglect to dignity, from poverty to opportunity, and from broken systems to sustainable urban development driven by the people themselves.