Inside the Wealthy Somalis Gentrification of Nairobi Kenya

why there are so many somalis in Minneapolis,#ilhanomar #omarfateh #minnesotapolitics #somalitakeover #jacobfrey,

somali blames culture for fraud,
Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh, a 25-year-old Kenyan who lives in Nairobi, was indicted last week in the District of Minnesota on one count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering.

Eastleigh Nairobi
But did you know that Eastleigh was actually named after a town in Hampshire, England?
A construction boom in recent years has dramatically altered Eastleigh’s skyline, with high-rise buildings rising quickly to meet the area’s commercial needs.

Today, however, Nairobi’s Eastleigh has evolved into a vibrant, multicultural Somali trade hub, charting its own course and resisting the British colonial influences Historians note that Eastleigh was originally established by the colonial administration as a residential area for Asians and Africans, many of whom were employed as clerks, builders, or shoemakers.

What began as a residential neighbourhood has transformed into a thriving economic hub, drawing traders and suppliers from across Kenya and beyond.Its influence now extends far beyond its official borders, thanks to its massive economic footprint.
Locally pronounced as "Isilii", Eastleigh has effectively redefined the colonial name into something uniquely Kenyan-Somali.

BBS Mall, also known as Business Bay Square, is a large shopping center in the Eastleigh area of Nairobi, Kenya. Opened in 2024, it is considered one of the largest malls in East and Central Africa.

The Somali Community.
In the 2009 population Census, It was projected that in two decades, Somalis will have overtaken the top three largest communities in Kenya to be the most populous group if the then population trends remained the same.

Kenyan Somalis are citizens and residents of Kenya who are of Somali ethnic descent. They are the 6th largest ethnic group, and have historically inhabited the North Eastern Province, previously part of the Northern Frontier District (NFD)

Hawala
The system of trust on which the Somali business community operates is perhaps best exemplified in hawala. Hawala is a unique system of money transfers based on trust, rather than on formal law or contracts, that is operative throughout the Somali diaspora. Remittances from abroad sent via hawala have further generated Somali diaspora trust-based business partnerships.

Trust relationships have superseded clan and lineage relationships, as is evident in the incorporation of Somali businesses in global Islamic business networks. Many Somali commercial ventures are linked to businesses in the Gulf, noting that faith-based trust is a gateway to greater business opportunities from the wider Islamic world. As a result, there is a trend towards traders valuing Islamic identity over clan identity. Trust is perceived as an important element of Islamic character so that a person regarded as a devout Muslim is also regarded as trustworthy.
South C or South Compton ( during colonial times) is an upper-class residential estate located in the southland area of Nairobi.

South B is a large, middle-class residential and commercial area in Nairobi, Kenya, known for its strategic location, diverse population, and affordability. It is one of the major estates in the city, situated about 3 km southeast of the Central Business District (CBD).
South C lies next to Wilson Airport. It is bordered by South B to the north-east, Langata Estate to the west and the Nairobi National Park to the south

South C is a large, vibrant residential estate in the southland area of Nairobi, Kenya. Originally developed during the colonial era for the Asian community, it is now a multi-cultural area with residents from various backgrounds. It is known for its convenient location and proximity to Nairobi National Park.

Pangani, Nairobi is a suburb of Nairobi. It is one of the oldest estates in Nairobi, and is located approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), by road, northeast of Nairobi's central business district.
Pangani traditionally had a large Asian population, who have mostly either emigrated or moved to the more upmarket areas of Westlands and Parklands.
It borders Muthaiga to the north, Ngara to the west, Eastleigh to the east, and Pumwani to the south.
Pangani is experiencing a significant "rise" as a result of rapid urban development, driven by its proximity to the Nairobi CBD, the implementation of the Pangani Affordable Housing Project and other residential constructions, and its growing appeal for both middle-class families and developers. This transformation involves an increase in high-rise buildings, rising rental prices, and ongoing construction, though this also raises concerns about safety and gentrification.


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00:00 Intro
00:56 Eastleigh
19:25 BBS Mall
20:30 History of Somalis in Kenya
22:20 Hawala
23:48 South C Nairobi
33:01 South B Nairobi
37:24 Pangani Area
45:45 Closing