Eastleigh, Nairobi
Encyclopedia
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.
enclave until independence in 1963. In recent years, the suburb has been dominated and almost exclusively inhabited by Somali immigrants.
(Moi Air Base) is located in the northern parts of Eastleigh.
division of Nairobi.
Eastleigh is further partitioned into three areas:
s 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 gun
s.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is located east of the Central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. Predominantly inhabited by Somali
Somalis in Kenya
Somalis in Kenya are citizens and residents of Kenya who are of Somali descent. Somalis are one of the largest Cushitic-speaking ethnic minority groups in the country. They first started arriving in the area in the 19th century. Following the civil war in Somalia that broke out in 1991, many...
immigrants, it has been described as "Little Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
", as well as "a country within a country with its own economy" on account of its robust business sector.
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. Eastleigh was originally a large Kenyan AsianIndians in Kenya
There are currently over 100,000 Indians in Kenya, most living in the major urban areas of Nairobi and Mombasa with others living in rural areas. Most are Hindus and with some Muslims, often with their own businesses and places of worship...
enclave until independence in 1963. In recent years, the suburb has been dominated and almost exclusively inhabited by Somali immigrants.
Air Base
The Eastleigh AirportMoi Air Base
Moi Air Base, formerly known as RAF Eastleigh and Eastleigh Airport is a military airport located to the east of Nairobi, in the Eastleigh suburb. The airport is used by the Kenya Air Force...
(Moi Air Base) is located in the northern parts of Eastleigh.
Administrative divisions
Administratively, Eastleigh is divided into Eastleigh North and Eastleigh South. Both are part of the PumwaniPumwani
Pumwani is an estate of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. In 2005 it had an estimated population of 29,616 .The Pumwani Maternity Hospital is located in Pumwani. It is the largest public maternity hospital in Kenya ....
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
Economy
Eastleigh is almost entirely inhabited by Somalis, except for a few indigenous residents. The suburb's commercial sector is likewise dominated by Somalis, with most if not all businesses owned by the Somali community. Somalis have invested heavily in the enclave, contributing over $1.5 billion in the neighborhood alone. Businesses range from small stalls to shopping mallShopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s and night lodges, and all feature Somali names such as Tawakal, Mogadishu, Qaran and Halal. Products are typically imported from Mogadishu and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, and include designer clothing
Designer clothing
Designer clothing is clothing that bears the logo of a recognizable fashion designer.The 'designer' whose name is on the label may be:* A European couturier, e.g. Chanel, Christian Dior* A European luxury goods house, e.g. Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton...
, jewelry and even gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s.
Communications
Eastleigh's communication facilities are very high-tech, with communication gadgets superior to even those of the local Kenyan police communication center.External links
- Eastleigh, Nairobi - The Facts
- The Standard, February 11, 2007: Eastleigh: A fast growing city within a city