Social and Political Dynamics of the Informal Economy in African Cities : Nairobi and Harare

In Africa, urbanites have used their ethnicity, friendship, and rural places of origin to cement their life in the cities, most particularly in the development of small enterprises. Social and Political Dynamics of the Informal Economy in African Cities explores how informal economies in African cities operate. The book, which focuses specifically on the on the Jua Kali in Kenya, also investigates the significance of various forms of social networks and how urban migrants have used them for shelter and establishing informal economic activities. It advances the argument that due to the poor performance of the formal economy in most developing countries and especially in Africa, the informal economy is the inevitable alternative and as such will need governmental encouragement, rather than discouragement, as has been the case for many years.