By Mohammed Juma
Kenyan rapper and activist Octopizzo has once again drawn attention to the grim realities faced by youth living in Nairobi’s informal settlements, particularly Kibera, where he was born and raised.
In a powerful statement shared on social media, Octopizzo reflected on how systemic neglect, poverty, and lack of opportunity have created an environment where children are stripped of their innocence and used as tools of political and criminal manipulation.
“They are used as goons because society has failed them,” Octopizzo wrote, describing the cycle of exploitation and abandonment that plagues many urban slums in Kenya.
According to him, the conditions in these areas not only age children before their time but also normalize criminalization from a young age.
The musician lamented that youth growing up in places like Kibera are often forced to become adults prematurely, navigating violence, poverty, and broken systems without protection or support.
“We don’t need charity; we need justice,” he emphasized, calling for systemic change rather than temporary relief efforts.
His message has resonated widely, sparking conversations online about the long-term impact of socio-economic inequality on young people.
Many users have praised Octopizzo for speaking out on behalf of communities often left voiceless in mainstream discourse.
Youth advocates and urban planners say Octopizzo’s comments reflect the daily reality of thousands of children in Kenya’s slums.
“It’s not about bad parenting or poor choices—it’s about structural failure,” said Beatrice Oketch, a community organizer in Kibera.
“Without investment in education, healthcare, and safe spaces, we are raising a generation that society has already written off,” she added.
Octopizzo, who also runs a foundation focused on empowering youth through the arts and education, urged both policymakers and the public to address root causes instead of blaming victims of a broken system.
“This is not just a Kibera problem—it’s a Kenyan problem,” he said.
As the country continues to grapple with urban poverty, voices like Octopizzo’s are becoming increasingly important in shifting the national conversation from pity to justice.