Content creator Terence Creative has spoken about his upbringing in Mathare’s Mlango Kubwa, an area he describes as defined by poverty and constant exposure to crime.
He recalls growing up in an environment where illegal activity was common and openly practiced, shaping daily life for many families, including his own.
''Life huko ni hard tulikuwa tunakaa kwa crime scene," he said.
According to Terence, residents of the area were often treated as suspects by default, with police presence and community suspicion forming part of everyday existence.
Life Amid Illegal Trade
Terence says his household was involved in the sale of chang’aa, an illicit local brew, while neighboring families dealt in bhang or industrial glue.
He describes the neighborhood as a “stretch” where different forms of illegal trade coexisted, making exposure to crime unavoidable for children growing up there.
From an early age, he observed how survival in the area often depended on informal or illegal economic activities.
Early Exposure to Substances
Terence recounts that he began smoking cigarettes at the age of nine, a habit he maintained for 22 years before quitting.
He also says that as a child, he was regularly asked by adults to taste chang’aa to check its strength before it was sold.
These experiences, he notes, were normalized within the community and formed part of his daily routine growing up.
Family Loss and Violence
Violence, Terence says, was a constant presence in Mathare. He recalls the death of his father, who was shot and killed.
He says he was informed that his father had been “shutiwa,” meaning shot, and later saw the body. Terence uses the term “kopa,” a local slang word, to describe the bullet that killed his father.
The incident, he explains, was one of many violent episodes that marked life in the area.
The Impact on His Siblings
Terence says the influence of the streets had severe consequences for his older brothers. One brother struggled with chang’aa and bhang use, while another became involved in theft.
He recounts incidents of mob justice, stating that his firstborn brother was beaten with stones by a crowd after being caught stealing.
His second born brother also faced mob violence and later served three months in prison.
Finding Ways to Survive
Despite the environment, Terence says he did not engage in violent theft. Instead, he turned to what he describes as “professional begging,” approaching people with rehearsed stories to solicit money.
He also found a way to earn income by recovering stolen documents. When bags were snatched and emptied near his home, Terence would locate discarded IDs and offer to return them to victims for a fee.
He says his grandmother, played a key role in protecting him during these early years as he navigated life in Mlango Kubwa.
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