Ofafa

Ofafa is a southeastern neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya in a low income, high-density area generally known as the Eastlands.[1] Politically it belongs to Makadara Constituency. In the mid-1950s the Quakers erected a building in Ofafa to act as a hub for individual craftspeople making and selling furniture.[2] It is also known for its Jericho school.

Ofafa
Suburb
Ofafa
Location in Kenya
Coordinates: 1°17′38″S 36°51′39″E
Country Kenya
RegionNairobi region
CountyNairobi County

Early housing estates there were part of Erica Mann's planning work in the 1940s and 1950s.[3] The Ofafa Jerusalem scheme created two-storey blocks of maisonettes that were connected to the electrical supply, had an internal water supply and sanitation, and were surrounded by ample open space.[4] The 1950s Ofafa Jericho estate was built in a similar style but now houses about 50,000 people: five times more than it was intended for.[1] People are living in poor quality iron sheet extensions and water and waste management are inadequate.[1]

Ofafa was named after Ambrose Ofafa, a prominent politician who received a Colonial Service award on the 1953 Coronation Honours list, and was murdered in November of the same year.[5]

References
  1. Joseph Waithuki, 'Nairobi Old Estates: A Glance at the Ofafa Jericho Eastlands', The Global Grid, 11 March 2014
  2. Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard). 4 March – 30 April 1986. p. 1. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. Rhodia Mann, 'Courage and hard work that left an indelible mark', The Nation, 1 Sep 2013
  4. 'Audience reacts to historical photos from the Kenya News Agency', ICT Newsletter, Information and Communication Technology Authority, 2015
  5. 'Ambrose Ofafa: Suave politician whose memory lingers on', The Standard, 21 June 2009
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