The Kibera Slums, an area 5 Kilometers Southwest of the city centre of Nairobi, is the most populated informal settlement in East Africa, housing more than one quarter of Nairobi's population. The name 'Kibera' is a Nubian word for 'forest'. Kibera is roughly 2 Kilometres squared with an estimated population of 1 million people. There are no residential buildings over a single storey. The average home size in Kibera is 3 meters by 3 meters, with an average of five persons per dwelling. Urban services such as water or sanitation are minimal. There is an average of one pit latrine for every 50 to 500 people.

The VII World Social Forum was beginning at Nairobi city in 2007. Kenya had just left behind several years of its dictatorial regime, and was starting to experience some democracy. More than 50 000 people from everywhere around the world were joined together for 6 days to assist conferences. It was the first time the World Social Forum took place in Africa. The Forum is usually held at the same time than its opponent, the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland. Thousands of activists from all over the world attended the WSF meeting at Kasarani Stadium to discuss and debate social issues. Based on the slogan "Another world is possible" ("Dunia Mbadala Yawezekana"), the WSF is an annual meeting organized by members of the alter-globalization movement. This is a showcase of what I've seen those days, in 2007, a few sides of Kenya. A home of hope, but also of fear.