Overview

Rich and informative study of the informal economy in Kenya. During the 1980s the term jua kali (Kiswahili for 'hot sun') came to refer to anybody working in self-employment in Kenya. This text brings the informal sector alive through the photographs and life histories of jua kali people, and offers an analysis of what has been achieved by ordinary Kenyans. North America: Ohio U Press; Kenya: EAEP

Full Product Details

9780852552391

Table of Contents

Reviews

... to my knowledge, there is no social scientist alive who is more adroit than Professor King at painting a vivid, detailed picture of what actually goes on. - Walter Elkan in DEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW ... could profitably be read by those concerned with the current problems of African industry, and the development of appropriate policies in the small or larger-scale sectors. - Ian Livingstone in JOURNAL OF MODERN AFRICAN STUDIES ... This is a formidable book, essential reading for anyone seeking to get beyond the policy- and project-centred literature. INTERNATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS JOURNAL The great merit of Jua Kali Kenya is that it gives these invisible people a voice. The bulk of the book is devoted to brief case studies of individuals who tell their stories in their own words. Reading them, one learns more about the informal sector than could be learned from a stack of experts' reports. - John Markakis in DEVELOPMENT & CHANGE This book clearly demonstrates that the informal sector is alive and kicking in Africa but its fate and progress cannot and should not be separated from the fate of the modern sector and the global economy. - Mahmood Messkoub in LUCAS BULLETIN In this remarkable book Kenneth King brings the subject alive through the photographs and life histories of the jua kali people. DSA NEWSLETTER The case studies are the heart of this book providing rich diachronic material on the lived experience of actors in the jua kali s of this book providing rich diachronic material on the lived experience of actors in the jua kali sector revealing them as i

... to my knowledge, there is no social scientist alive who is more adroit than Professor King at painting a vivid, detailed picture of what actually goes on. - Walter Elkan in DEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW ... could profitably be read by those concerned with the current problems of African industry, and the development of appropriate policies in the small or larger-scale sectors. - Ian Livingstone in JOURNAL OF MODERN AFRICAN STUDIES ... This is a formidable book, essential reading for anyone seeking to get beyond the policy- and project-centred literature. INTERNATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS JOURNAL The great merit of Jua Kali Kenya is that it gives these invisible people a voice. The bulk of the book is devoted to brief case studies of individuals who tell their stories in their own words. Reading them, one learns more about the informal sector than could be learned from a stack of experts' reports. - John Markakis in DEVELOPMENT & CHANGE This book clearly demonstrates that the informal sector is alive and kicking in Africa but its fate and progress cannot and should not be separated from the fate of the modern sector and the global economy. - Mahmood Messkoub in LUCAS BULLETIN In this remarkable book Kenneth King brings the subject alive through the photographs and life histories of the jua kali people. DSA NEWSLETTER The case studies are the heart of this book providing rich diachronic material on the lived experience of actors in the jua kali sector revealing them as innovative, hard working and flexibly adaptive. - Nici Nelson in JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

'... to my knowledge, there is no social scientist alive who is more adroit than Professor King at painting a vivid, detailed picture of what actually goes on.' - Walter Elkan in Development Policy Review '... could profitably be read by those concerned with the current problems of African industry, and the development of appropriate policies in the small or larger-scale sectors.' - Ian Livingstone in Journal of Modern African Studies '... This is a formidable book, essential reading for anyone seeking to get beyond the policy- and project-centred literature.' - International Small Business Journal 'The great merit of Jua Kali Kenya is that it gives these invisible people a voice. The bulk of the book is devoted to brief case studies of individuals who tell their stories in their own words. Reading them, one learns more about the informal sector than could be learned from a stack of experts' reports.' - John Markakis in Development & Change This book clearly demonstrates that the informal sector is alive and kicking in Africa but its fate and progress cannot and should not be separated from the fate of the modern sector and the global economy.' - Mahmood Messkoub in Leeds African Studies Bulletin 'In this remarkable book Kenneth King brings the subject alive through the photographs and life histories of the jua kali people.' - DSA Newsletter 'The case studies are the heart of this book providing rich diachronic material on the lived experience of actors in the jua kali sector revealing them as innovative, hard working and flexibly adaptive.' - Nici Nelson in Journal of Development Studies

Author Information

KENNETH KING is Professor Emeritus at the University of Edinburgh, and former Director of its Centre of African Studies, and author of China's Aid and Soft Power in Africa (2013).

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available