| dc.description.abstract | This study is on the role of small and intermediate urban centres (sruCs) in regional
and national development in Kenya using Municipality of Bungoma (MoB) as a case study.
SIUCs potentially fulfil an important role in integrating urban and rural functions into
national spatial systems. sruCs can provide important linkage effects down the spatial
hierarchy to farm and villages as well as upward to major urban centres. The role of
SIUCs may have a very positive influence on rural development and agricultural
productivity through the provision of a great range of goods, urban cash flows and services.
In turn, the rural urnland provide resources which enable SIUCs to expand their economic
and social functions.
This study argues that STUCs have a potential role to play in regional and national
development of the economy. The study analyzes the major factors responsible for the
growth and development of MoB; examines the functions MoB performs and some of the
problems it faces; establishes the socio-economic linkages that exist between MoB and its
umland; and proposes future strategies for strengthening the role of sruCs in regional and
national development. According to the 1979-1983 National Development Plan of Kenya,
greater emphasis will continue to be given to the urban and rural development of western
Kenya (within which lies MoB), an area with large population, a shortage of infrastructure,
and a promising but unrealized potential for agricultural development.
Both primary and secondary sources of data were used in this study. In the
collection of primary data, stratified random sampling procedure was used. The techniques
of data analysis adopted in this study were both descriptive and analytical in nature.
From the analysis, it was found that MoB emerged as a centre for Bungoma District
due to the ar-rival of the railway line. However, whereas the growth and development of
the municipality have been influenced mainly by transportation network, the influence of
other factors should not be underscored, MoB functions as an economic, social and
administrative centre and more particularly as a node for the efficient operation of tertiary
economic activity, that is the prevision of goods and services to both the urban and umland
populations at large. The study has also revealed that there is a continuous and enduring
socio-economic linkage(s) between MoB and its umland. However, it is important to note
that MoB's impact on inducing the development of the peripheral umland has not been
impressive at all. This is explained by the exploitative nature of the Iinkage(s), weak
economic base, lack of industrial establishments and infrastructural problems.
The study recommends that if SIUCs are expected to realize their potential role in
inducing the development of the umlands, their economic base would have to be
restructured and that sustainable urban management and development of them is
important. The study also recommends the use of SIUCs as growth poles 01" growth centres
to achieve urban, regional and national development. Finally further areas of research are
recommended. | en |
