Kenyan rapper Domani Munga recently made waves after openly stating that he would not raise his children in Umoja, a well-known estate in Nairobi’s Eastlands. The Geri Inengi singer, who rarely does interviews, made an exception for a podcast discussion with his close friend Chaxxy, where he shared his thoughts on the challenges of growing up in Eastlands.
Munga is among many Kenyan artists who hail from Eastlands, a region known for producing some of the country’s most talented musicians. However, despite its rich cultural history, Munga believes that raising children in the area presents unique challenges, particularly due to issues like crime, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancies.
“Umoja si area unaeza taka kulea mtoto wako,” Munga stated, translating to, “Umoja is not an environment you would want to raise your child.”
His concerns were especially heightened when considering raising a girl child in Umoja. He lamented that young girls in the area are often exposed to heartbreak and relationships at an alarmingly young age. “She will get her first heartbreak in Class Three and get herself in many relationships in between. Before she is even done with Form Four, she already has a kid. A girl in Form Four living in Umoja will always date an older guy; they go for the ones in college,” he remarked.
Munga’s perspective stems from personal experiences growing up in the area. He highlighted how immorality and drug abuse have become rampant, influencing young people negatively. He believes that providing a better environment for his children is crucial to ensuring they grow up without such societal pressures.
His sentiments resonated with many netizens who shared similar stories in the comment section. Some pointed out that these issues are not exclusive to Umoja but are prevalent in many other informal settlements across Nairobi.
“All my cousins have kids, and they all dropped out of school because of pregnancy,” one commenter wrote.
“The East side is not for everybody,” another added.
While Umoja and other Eastlands neighborhoods have long been known for their vibrancy and strong sense of community, challenges such as crime, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancies remain significant concerns. Munga’s remarks have sparked an important conversation about the need for a safer and more nurturing environment for the next generation.
