Kibera is known as one of Africa's largest slums, representing a unique ecosystem in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. For many residents of Kibera, it is a community that unites to overcome the hardships that make daily survival a struggle for many.
Government bodies came and went, making promises to improve life in Kibera, often during elections, but many of these commitments were never fulfilled. Despite gradual improvements, development efforts made by both the government and international agencies have not yet met the growing needs of the community.
Technology can be a savior. This is where Tiger Zhao, a Chinese entrepreneur, appears after visiting the area and seeing an opportunity to help the local community. He founded Konnect Internet, which provides affordable internet access and helps residents understand how to use connectivity to create opportunities and improve their well-being.
This is not charity, but a business with a very different approach. Tiger implemented what he calls 'hyperlocal hiring,' employing Kibera residents and training them in various roles—from installation and sales to troubleshooting and public interaction. He created a team striving to develop their skills and wanting to influence their neighbors. Most of them are young people, some with growing families, disillusioned by the lack of opportunities, but eager to grow with Konnect.
Bernard Ochieng grew up here with six siblings in a small apartment until it became too crowded. He moved out and got his own housing, while his parents went to Western Kenya, leaving him to earn a living and care for his siblings. Bernard did everything possible to survive, resorting to petty theft and even open robbery when necessary. Slum dwellers consider this 'hustling,' and it doesn't necessarily mean that someone like Bernard is a 'bad person.' In fact, Bernard worked for various international NGOs involved in development projects in Kibera. One can easily notice the respect and affection he commands from his community members when he walks down the street.
Bernard, who was considered a kind of local leader, noticed workers laying cables as Konnect expanded its services in Kibera. He stopped them and asked who had authorized the work. The workers connected him with their supervisors, who, upon understanding the community, saw not an obstacle but an opportunity. They invited Bernard for an interview. He was hired! Initially, he was trained in installation, but his supervisors, especially Tiger, saw how much more he was capable of. Bernard knew who needed their service and could assist the salespeople. He knew where resistance might arise and how to handle opposition. Soon, he became Konnect's head of security.
His story gets even better. Falling in love with a colleague working for an NGO, Bernard started collecting trash to support his young wife after they finished their development work. Konnect provided Bernard with the means to afford a nice apartment; they even gifted him a television, and he and his wife Lorin Atieno were able to settle comfortably with their newborn son. Lorin founded her own NGO, SHEnergy for Change, which provides single mothers with skills and employment opportunities, helping them use the internet to promote themselves and their businesses.
For Tiger, the work is not over. Although in a few short years he has connected hundreds of thousands of Kenyans to the internet, he has plans through which he hopes Bernard will help him reach one billion Africans across the continent. Tiger views online platforms as a way to provide skills and expand access to education. He also helped a young man create a library for children who cannot afford educational materials. This library offers online classes, shared books, and a quiet place where children can concentrate on their studies away from crowded homes and domestic distractions. He also sees the internet as a source of income through online tasks, job searching, product marketing skills, and even providing internet-related services in the community. One local theater owner saw exponential growth in his profits thanks to Konnect's affordable and reliable internet.
Tiger and Bernard come from completely different life circumstances to end up together in Kibera, working hand-in-hand to improve life in this vast slum. They see the results of their joint work every day: smiling little children after a lesson, young mothers bringing home necessary items for the family after visiting local shops with the required resources, men beaming after leaving the theater after watching their favorite club defeat rivals. There is a deep sense of satisfaction in improving the lives of people facing numerous difficulties in Kibera. For Bernard and Tiger, this sense of purpose is just beginning. As they expand their mission, they hope to provide access to affordable and reliable internet to many other communities across Africa, creating opportunities and opening new prospects for those who need them most.
