Rewriting the Richness of Ethnic Diversities: Tales of Rural-Urban Migrants’ in Mathare Informal Settlement in Nairobi City County-Kenya

Abstract

African continent has for a long time experienced accelerated growth of urban centers resulting from rural-urban migrations. These migrations have consequentially led to the emergency of multiethnic urban spaces prompting the need to embrace diversity. At the same time many African multi-ethnic nations continue to experience ethnic related conflicts that threaten peace and stability of her nations. This study explored ethnic mixing in the urban as a tool for teaching tolerance and diversity. Participants were migrants who moved from the rural mono ethnic regions to multiethnic urban spaces and were living in Mathare informal settlement. The study employed interpretive study design that allowed use of mixed methods. Findings of the study established that urban areas played a pivotal role in teaching diversity and promoting tolerance. The study concluded that ethnic mixing can be used as an alternative strategy in fostering ethnic understanding thus promoting cohesive existence among the diverse groups.