This document uses a systems thinking approach to explain the persistent electricity challenges in Mathare, highlighting how interconnected social, economic, and institutional factors create recurring patterns such as reliance on informal connections. It illustrates how top-down interventions, like removing transformers, often reinforce cycles of mistrust, exclusion, and informal provision rather than solving the problem. By unpacking concepts such as mental models, root causes (iceberg model), and systemic “traps” like short-term fixes and dependency, the brief emphasizes the need for inclusive, collaborative, and long-term solutions. Ultimately, it empowers communities to better understand these dynamics, articulate their experiences, and advocate for more effective and sustainable change grounded in trust, participation, and local realities.