History of Kibera

Kibera's history stems back to Nairobi's colonial days, when many native Kenyans were forced out of the residential areas of the city – at that point a minor railroad depot – by the Imperial British East Africa Company in the late 1800s. This action paved the way for longstanding conflicts over land rights.
Kibera itself was formed when Nubian mercenaries from Sudan, who were conscripted into the King's African Rifles during World War I, were allowed to squat in a wooded hillside area outside Nairobi after the war. The former soldiers built homes in what they called kibra, meaning "forest" or "jungle." They were never given title to the land. Thus, Kibera was born. 

You can rea more about Kibera at:  
http://www.peopleofkibera.com/kibera/history#