Bitcoin is Changing Lives in Kenya’s Largest Slum — Here’s How By ChainFabricNews

Image source: YOUTUBE

 

In a place where most people don’t have bank accounts or credit cards, something unexpected is happening — Bitcoin is quietly becoming a lifeline.

Welcome to Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Home to over 250,000 people, it’s a neighborhood full of resilience, challenges, and now — innovation. Over the past few months, hundreds of locals have started using Bitcoin for simple, everyday things: buying groceries, paying for transport, and even saving money.

Why Are People Using Bitcoin in Kibera?

For most of us, banking is easy. We swipe cards, use UPI apps, or send money online without thinking twice. But in Kibera, it's a different story. Many people here don’t qualify for traditional bank accounts. Even Kenya’s famous mobile money service, M-PESA, charges high fees that can make small transactions expensive.

That’s where Bitcoin comes in. Through a project by a nonprofit called AfriBit Africa, people are being trained to use digital wallets to send and receive Bitcoin. It’s free to use, fast, and doesn’t require approval from a bank.

As Elijah Mwangi, the founder of AfriBit, puts it:

“Bitcoin is giving people in Kibera a way to control their money — maybe for the first time in their lives.”

How It Works in Daily Life

AfriBit started by working with local shopkeepers, vegetable sellers, and waste collectors. They were given basic smartphones and taught how to use simple Bitcoin wallets. Now, when a customer wants to buy vegetables or soap, they can pay in Bitcoin. Some vendors keep the Bitcoin, others convert it back into Kenyan shillings through local crypto agents.

One vendor, Mary, who runs a small fruit stall, shared her experience:

“I didn’t know what Bitcoin was. But now I use it to get paid. It’s easier than I thought. And I don’t have to wait in line at the bank.”

Of Course, There Are Challenges

Like any new technology, there are problems. Bitcoin’s price can go up and down quickly, which makes some people nervous. Others don’t always have strong internet or smartphones. And while the Kenyan government hasn’t banned Bitcoin, there’s still some uncertainty around how it fits into national laws.

But the people in Kibera are not waiting for perfect conditions. They’re moving ahead — with or without official support.

A Small Story with Big Meaning

This might sound like a small local story, but it shows something powerful: crypto isn’t just for techies or investors. In places like Kibera, it’s becoming a real tool for survival, savings, and independence.

And maybe that’s what Bitcoin was meant to be all along — a way to give power back to everyday people, no matter where they live.

In Mary’s words: “I don’t know much about the internet. But I know this helps me feed my children.”