Paper short abstract:

In this presentation the transformation of urban space used for business and its link with the modification of the Kenyan trading sector by Somali migrants, opening up business opportunities for a broader range of people than before, will be explored.

Paper long abstract:

In the last two decades a tremendous change took place in the Kenyan retail business, which allowed more people to participate in the economy as traders. This development was linked to a transformation of the notion and usage of space. Three parallel processes led to this change: the liberalization of the business sector, urbanization processes and the migration of business people from Somalia to Kenyan cities as refugees. Coming mainly from Moqadishu with hardly more than their knowledge on how to do business, they transformed the trading sector by a reconfiguration of the way space is used for business. Hotel rooms became shops during day time, bigger shops were subdivided into smaller stalls and later on shopping complexes were built, where every inch is made use of. The best example for this reconfiguration of space is the now famous "Somali" neighbourhood Eastleigh (Nairobi), but similar developments took place in other urban centers. These transformations of the notion and usage of space were not so much a development following a vision than rather a necessity, but they were taken up as a role model quickly. While the notion of a "democratization" of business is too optimistic, an opening up of the option of doing business for a broader range of people can be observed. This presentation is based on anthropological research with Somali migrants in Kenya and will deal with the modified way business is done and how these changes are shaped and reflected by a transformation of urban space.