ABSTRACT
An introduction to the various initial housing areas for and by Africans in Nairobi, and how these became important to the development of the city. In the chapter we attempt to highlight the social processes taking place that were instrumental to the development of these housing areas. The first residents in these areas had been part of, and were still close to, the British system, either through the caravan trade or serving in the military. Importantly, these housing areas also had a high percentage of women residents. These were either wives, mothers, independent entrepreneurs, or landlords.
