Eastleigh, Nairobi
Eastleigh is a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya. It is located east of the Central business district. Predominantly inhabited by Somali immigrants, it has been described as "Little Mogadishu", as well as "a country within a country with its own economy" on account of its robust business sector.[1]
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[edit] History
Eastleigh was founded in 1921. The colonial government allotted Nairobi's residential estates by race, and Eastleigh was pointed for Asians and elite Africans who worked as clerks, builders or shoemakers.[2] Eastleigh was originally a large Kenyan Asian enclave until independence in 1963. In recent years, the suburb has been dominated and almost exclusively inhabited by Somali immigrants.[1]
[edit] Air Base
The Eastleigh Airport (Moi Air Base) is located in the northern parts of Eastleigh.
[edit] Administrative divisions
Administratively, Eastleigh is divided into Eastleigh North and Eastleigh South. Both are part of the Pumwani division of Nairobi.
Eastleigh is further partitioned into three areas:
- Section I - from Juja Road
- Section II - the commercial center
- Section III - situated towards Jogoo Road
[edit] Economy
Eastleigh is almost entirely inhabited by Somalis, except for a few indigenous residents.[1] The suburb's commercial sector is likewise dominated by Somalis, with most if not all businesses owned by the Somali community.[1] Somalis have invested heavily in the enclave, contributing over $1.5 billion in the neighborhood alone.[3] Businesses range from small stalls to shopping malls and night lodges, and all feature Somali names such as Tawakal, Mogadishu, Qaran and Halal. Products are typically imported from Mogadishu and Dubai, and include designer clothing, jewelry and even guns.[1]
[edit] Communications
Eastleigh's communication facilities are very high-tech, with communication gadgets superior to even those of the local Kenyan police communication center.[1]
[edit] Notable residents
Mohamed Amin, a famous photojournalist, was born in Eastleigh.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Kenya/Somalia: Somalia community doing booming business in country - Norwegian Council for Africa
- ^ Daily Nation, December 27, 2008: Roads are a mess, but memories of good times linger
- ^ Help Locals Rebuild Their Country By Ensuring World Attention And Peace
[edit] External links
- Eastleigh, Nairobi - The Facts
- The Standard, February 11, 2007: Eastleigh: A fast growing city within a city
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