dc.description.abstract | Kenyan urban centres are experiencing exponential transformation from the proliferation of
informal activities. Most literature has noted that informality is a result of rapid urbanization
which is not accompanied by proportionate economic growth. Lack of formal employment
has therefore, triggered the mushrooming of informal activities in almost all the vacant spaces
within the urban area. These informal activities accommodate the skilled, semi-skilled and
unskilled and therefore, are the life-stream of many low-income city dwellers; they provide
homes, sources of livelihood, and facilitate affordable transportation modes and therefore are
important part of the economy. However, while these activities are an integral part of many
households, their spatial significance and impact to the well-being of the city has not been
established. This study focuses on the two informal activities (bus termini and vending) that
affect the general use of Tom Mboya Street as a case study. It assesses the nature of the
informal activities, the causes and effects of informalization of street use with the aim of
recommending management strategies for integrating them within the city scape and at the
same time ensuring the effective street use.
Through the analysis of various global best practices/ responses and the Kenyan policies and
legal responses to informal enterprises, this study identifies legal exclusion of the informal
enterprises as the main hindrances to the spatial integration of these activities. Other factors
include lack of political good will, weak urban governance, weak policy framework, and the
incapacity of urban planning and management institutions to address the issues of
informality. The main recommendations from this study were aimed at providing legal spatial
guidelines for effective management of informal business activities as well as improving the
quality of the services they provide. These recommendations included short term measures
such as creating an enabling environment for informal businesses (regulated licensing fees
and recognition of informal activities as important part of the economy), proposing
alternative appropriate locations for these activities within downtown and where they
minimally affect the effective flow of traffic along the streets as well as introducing amenities
that improve their operations. Long-term measures included the preparation of development/
redevelopment plan for the town that include designated areas for informal activities which
can only be achieved through extensive consultations with all the stakeholders, especially the
informal business operators. The study also recommends mainstreaming informal business
activities in spatial planning and design of urban plans | en_US |