| dc.description.abstract | This study examines migrant characteristics
ill rural-rural migration in Kenya in the face of changing economic
values. Rural-rural migration remains largely unstudied in
Kenya and generally in the world as a whore. The study focusses
attention on Western Kenya and particularly in Kakamega and
Bungoma Districts, which since early colonial days have been
net out-migration areas. Results contained herein are a welcome
addition to rural-rural migration studies in Kenya.Physical, ecological, economic, historical and cultural problems
combine to make the areas of study net out-migration ar ea s ,
However, the establishment of the sugar belt in Western Kenya
has now created a new pattern of in-migration into the home
districts of the sugar complexes that now challenges the dominance
of the out-migration stream and the Tea Industry in Kericho
and Nandi Hills where most, migrants were destined. - Based on a sample survey of labour migrants into Mumias
and Nzoia Sugar Complexes, the study concludes that the hitherto
existing differentials between rural-rural and rural-urban migrants
in socia-economic attributes are being eroded and there are
emerging similarities in educational attainment, occupation and
landholding. This suggests that a chan ge in the nature of
migration is emerging'. The study also concludes that even
though the eviction of families from theihomes to make room
for the sugar schemes must have caused landlessness, the population
studied was not affected much since only a few of them were
victims of eviction.
Statistical procedures used in testing whether any
differences, with respect to selected attributes ex ist ed between
the migrants suggest that no such differences exist between
migrants in Mumias and Nzoia , The same test showed some significant
differences between the migrants In Mumias- Nzoia stream and
those of an earlier study, i.e Kericho which was used for comparative
purposes. Significant differences especially in educational attachment
seem to point to the fact that rural-rural migrants ar e becoming
more ed uca ted while still r e.tain in g the status of b ein g married as
, Indicated in early rural-rural migration studies.
The main, recommendations arising from the above are that,
first, rural planners should plan for-the accommodation and retention of rural people by making rural areas more attractive.
Second, rapid expansion of job opportunities should be embarked
on so that as more people join the rural stream, they should
find meaningful employment at their chosen destinations. More
rural-rural migration studies are needed in order to fully understand
the role of migration in Kenya. These studies should focus
on the demographic and socio-economic aspects of migration both
at origin and destination. | en |
