▼ Collective identity shaped and reshaped by the interaction between those within the collective and the limits dictated by those outside the collective. This thesis looks in particular at the way in which clan membership, ethnicity, citizenship, nationality, instrumental group associations and/or status as refugee plays in the construction and reinvention of Somali collective identity in Kenya. It examines both the claims made over time by those within the collective and the influence of agents outside of the community such as, the government in terms of its policies and enforcers. By examining three distinct periods in Kenyan history, the thesis shows the way in which interaction with the Kenyan space and the people that exist within it have engaged in the shaping of Somali identity. While the definition of who is Somali and what characterizes being Somali has changed over time, it is clear that there still remains a strong sense of being Somali. Advisors/Committee Members: Christian, Mark.