Somali Business Community Protests Robberies in Nairobi’s Eastleigh
Eastleigh, Nairobi (SDN) A large demonstration took place in the Eastleigh (Islii) neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya today. Hundreds of Somali business people and community members took to the streets in the Eastleigh neighbourhood this morning to protest the recent rash of robberies plaguing businesses in the area.
According to business people in the area, they are being targeted by thieves who strike at night. The robberies may be the work of local Kenyan gangs who thrive by targeting the often undocumented Somali business people who live and work in Eastleigh.
“Our stores are robbed at night by groups of Kenyans, sometimes we put our lives at risk, no one is doing anything about it, it seems like the police are aware of the perpetrators and are part of the problem” said one business women who has a store in the area.
No word yet on what is being done to address the issues being faced by the Somali business community in Eastleigh. The constituency elected the first ever Somali MP to represent Eastleigh/Kamkunji in Kenya’s parliament. MP Yusuf Hassan Abdi is a visible force in the community, how he will deal with this new scourge remains to be seen.
SDN- Eastleigh, Nairobi