ABSTRACT
The reproduction of social inequalities is contingent upon the existence of conflictual spaces. In urban areas, conflicts may be latent, as evidenced by informal settlements providing essential resources for the improvement of livelihoods in the neighborhood while remaining in precarious living conditions with limited access to basic infrastructure. Nevertheless, sharing similar experiences tends to stimulate activities aimed at constructing something in one's own way with the application of transversal logic. This chapter offers a historical analysis of Gituamba, a sub-area within Nairobi's Kasarani constituency, known for its socioeconomic diversity and varied built environment. Kasarani includes a mix of settlement types—from single-family homes and multi-story buildings to informal settlements like Gituamba. The chapter traces how Gituamba has been dynamically reshaped in response to both internal and external conflicts, focusing in particular on the transformative effects of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Thika Road Highway. By examining the interplay between shifting socioeconomic conditions and the built environment, the chapter explores how latent and manifest conflicts have (re)figured the area's development and spatial layout, reinforcing social inequalities in this urban periphery.
