My Hood: Inside the dark secrets of Hilton estate

The Hilton Estate offers breathtaking views of Nakuru City. Located past London Ward and near the Giotto dumpsite, the estate is easily recognisable by the large open field, which is often filled with children playing. This field is adjacent to the long-stalled London Market.

Crossing the field and climbing the rocky, sloped terrain to reach the estate feels like a hike. At the top of the hill, there is a vibrant scene with children running around and others relaxing near the cliff’s edge and enjoying the breeze and panoramic view, which is now familiar to them.

Women bustle around charcoal stoves while others carry jerry cans. They notice us, but continue with their routines. Here, we meet John*, a 33-year-old lifelong resident of Hilton. As we walk through the area, he points out a tall tree and a nearby towering roof — landmarks that once defined the entire estate.

Though only about a kilometre wide, Hilton forms part of the larger London estate and is bordered by Guba and Galilee.

As we pass a group of women and young men carrying jerrycans, Benson explains that they are selling 'busaa', a local brew.

Although small, Hilton is densely populated and known for its strong community spirit. John recalls how the locals united after Daniel Nderitu was allegedly shot by the police. Despite their limited resources, the residents protested in solidarity.

As we approach the London Social Hall, the overwhelming stench from the nearby landfill site hits us. John notes that it's better now than it was before. Much of Hilton’s population is made up of young people. Some gather in the so called jobless corners, while others earn a living by breaking stones into gravel or raising pigs and feeding them at the dumpsite.

We stop at the site where Daniel Nderitu was killed. Candle marks remain from a vigil, and grief still lingers among the residents.

John tells us that Daniel was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He remembers seeing Danielss body on the ground and the police speeding away under a hail of stones thrown by angry locals.

Next, we speak to Angela Wamaitha, who shares her experiences of growing up in Hilton. She highlights the challenges faced by young people: dropping out of school, drug abuse, early marriages and crime. Young girls often find themselves in relationships with much older men, and drug use is widespread, driven by peer pressure and a lack of alternatives.

Angela laments that young people who try to stay clean are often ostracised. Without adequate support or opportunities, many people succumb to their environment.

"When the police come here for raids, they already know what to expect," she says, noting the lack of hope among young people and emphasising the need for better opportunities.

As our tour comes to an end, we head to the Kwa Chege bus terminus and catch a matatu back to Nakuru city centre, leaving behind a resilient community united by hardship, solidarity and an unyielding spirit.