A laborer at Nairobi’s industrial area paints wheelbarrows under what is knows at the “Jua Kali” industry. Jua Kali, literally “hot sun” in Swahili, is the name for micro enterprises, roadside industry in Kenya.

From Africa Unchained

The Western concept of industrialisation has met with little success in most African countries. The poor performance of industries has led to the emergence of micro and small scale industries. In Kenya, these micro and small scale industries have been commonly referred to as ‘Jua Kali’ industries. The term ‘Jua Kali’ is Swahili for ‘Hot sun’ referring to the open air working conditions of the entrepreneurs. Most Jua Kali industries start off and remain as informal enterprises as their owners often cannot afford the expensive and rigorous process of registering with the relevant Government bodies. This informality means that the Jua kali businesses have found it hard to access business development services or export markets as compared to the formal and larger industries. (King 1995, 24-30). The Jua Kali entrepreneurs as result remain poor and their businesses small and uncompetitive. Though the Government has recognized the potential of the Jua Kali sector as an employment opportunity for many Kenyans, it has failed to create an enabling and sustainable environment for these micro and small industries to grow…[continue reading]