10/05/2024
The Eastleigh We would want:
Background Information
Eastleigh ‘Little Mogadishu’. It began sometime in 1994, when Refugees staying at Garissa Lodge, the
once undistinguished lodging located near the Corner of Wood Street and Eastleigh 1st Avenue,
began using their Rooms as daytime Shops. Garissa Lodge remains the Spatial hub of the
Expanding Commercial Juggernaut dominated by Somalis of the Diaspora. The business model
Spread to other Towns and reproduced itself in Neighbouring countries.
Because of the Unending Political Turmoil in Somalia, the Evolution of Islamic Insurgency, Sea
Piracy, their Enterprising Nature and Global presence with beehive of Activities, the Present-
Day SOMALIS are faced by many Stereotype, of which many are just but Unsubstantiated
fuelled Propagandas against Them! Somalis are Well-known Global Entrepreneurs; EastLeigh’s
Business Empires and the Shopping Mall Phenomenon has also been Rising Since 1994.
Evidence Suggests that Kenya has greatly benefited from the Resources, Skills and Talents of
Somalis. According to a March 2011 Report by Chatham House, a London-based Think Tank, a
‘Growing Somali Investment in Nairobi has attracted Banks and other Service providers
demonstrating that Urban Refugees are not necessarily a burden on the State and can be an
Economic Asset’. The Report further States that Somali Businessmen, active in the Areas of
Transport, Real Estate, Finance, Import-Export and Livestock have Invested over $1.5Billion
the Pockets of Kenyan Suppliers. The flow of Capital into Kenya continues and Somalis have been Purchasing Urban
property in Nairobi and Mombasa at a Rate raising Alarm in many Quarters. The Somali may be
the world’s Thickest-skinned Entrepreneurs, but neither this Trait nor the Successes of Somali have distinguished themselves in High-income professions and the private sector. Somali
transporters and traders operate across a region spanning the Congo, Southern Sudan, the
Horn, and Southern Africa. Many thousands of Somalis are Employed and Running businesses in
the Diaspora. Their Enterprising Nature and Traditional Social Organization allow Somalis in
Africa and Abroad to Pool their financial resources. These Contemporary factors and
Traditional pastoralist Resilience, Mobility, and Risk-taking — Not Pirates and Banditry — go a
long way towards Explaining the Dynamics of Somali Capitalism.
Economic Activity appears more feverish with each passing Month, but Eastleigh’s Shopping
Malls are a Monoculture of Stalls and small Shops selling the same Clothes, Electronics,
Household goods, Cosmetics, and Groceries. …… (The East African, 2010) ………
In fact, the Changing Skyline of Eastleigh Proves that, Eastleigh has become one the Fastest
Growing Commercial Hub, Not only in Kenya, but in the Entire Region to appoint where Big
Multi-national and Corporate Organizations are eying it as a Potential!
Eastleigh has a large population of young people below the age of 35 years. The main challenge brought about by this population is the very growing need for social services such ashealth, education and other social amenities. Each year, an increasing number of these young people necessitate an increase in creation of employment and income opportunies to meet the demands of this group. On the other handif social and economic needs for this population are met then the social-economic development of the country will begreatly enhanced. In this case the large population of young people will become an asset to the country. It is in recognition of this that EYF has put in place several initiatives/ activities aimed at improving socio- economic opportunities and wellbeing of young people in Eastleigh.
The major problem affecting young people are drugs and substance abuse (especially miraa), mental health due to stress,theseproblems are caused by poverty and lack employment opportunities.
The misuse of substance is mainly because of idleness and the lack of involvement, low education status, youth cannot be able to cope.
Some young people in Eastleigh often find themselves involved in unemployment, youth from minority/marginalized community. This mainly because of lack of employment opportunities, and lack of identity and discrimination of the youths.
Young peopleespecially in Eastleigh are disadvantaged to work as a result of substance abuse, lower education status. There are also other challenges that hinder employment and income opportunities like tribalism, nepotism funds with interest rates that are against Islamic laws and requirements to access loans.
Among other factors hindering growth and youth development is lack of positive role models.
But in the recent years EYF has identified the knowledge and information to mitigate the key drivers to this issues. The organization has earned success in the transformation of the young people from me literacy level to having basic life skills and sustainable efforts to earn income and sense of purpose. Many youths who were at risks have received supportive vocational training skills, basic language training skills ,and a series of mentorship session through indoor and outdoor public forums, local radio, television and social media.
The reason for is to promote youth empowerment in terms of improving employability and entrepreneurship skills, where they are trained in what they are good at for example if one is a comedian Eastleigh youth forum creates concerts for them, if they are actors EYF also creates film boot camp etc.
The other reason is that EYF wanted to guide the youth to tilt their minds towards asset creation and to make them deviate from total dependency.
The organization has been carrying out so many activities which has receives tones of positive feedbacks from the youth , in particular training and workshops for the youth , talent exhibition. EYF has involved youth groups in all this organized activities and uses its connections to invite qualified mentors to mentor the participants (youth) which allows them meet the right people who can help them do well since most talented people in our society lack such connections.Theseefforts have promoted harmonious relationship between EYF and so many youth groups both formal and informal.
EYF Director Iman Burhan carried out a Beneficiary / youth contact monitor and he has established that at least 80% of youth have expressed their interest to join and work with EYF.
There is an outcry in this community regarding youth unemployment and skills to help them improve theirlives and EYF has introduced this concept to reduce poverty, by giving the knowledge, and also tilt the youth attitude of total dependency and violence to support themselves.
There is need for this trainings and forums from time to time so they can learn from these mentors.
Eastleigh Youth Forum in partnership with Eastleigh Business District Association and County Council of Nairobi are transforming Eastlegh into health, safe and green. This is critical step in advocating for a safe, secure, and sustainable society through the clean-up service activity. We advocate for a clean, neat and pollution free environment because we all have a role for ensuring a healthy environment for future generations. Through this cleaning, our Community will be free from pollutants that are harmful. "Good hygiene is important in creating a health-supportive mental and physical growth and to acquire knowledge, attitudes, values and skills to sustain improvements in order to address the new challenges in the environment as seen in the pictures below. Let’s unite to advocate for clean and safe environment of making Eastleigh,24/7 business.
