| dc.description.abstract | The study sought to examine the outermost location of low income residential areas in
Kisumu municipality (Kenya) with particular reference to the influence of rent and
distance from place of work, to determine residential mobility among low income
households and the relative influence of factors on residential locational choice. From
secondary sources and pilot surveys, it was observed that land use patterns in Kisumu
municipality does not conform to the majority of conventional urban land use models.
Low income residential areas formed the external boundaries of the town.
Six low income residential areas were identified, out of which four areas were
randomly selected for the study, and the household population determined. Each of the
four areas was divided into four geographical clusters, whereupon structured
questionnaires were administered to a total of 325 heads of households in the months of
February and March 1993.
The data was entered into a computer and analyzed using Epi5. It was observed
that distribution of the population within the low income areas showed a high proportion
of particular district. It was established that ethnicity and kinship was the most
important locational factor for the new urban migrants, with 64.1% having stayed with
their relatives on first-arrival. The low income households considered room space
suitability (33.7%), distance to work place (28.5%), affordability (19.7%), neatness,
suitability of units for business purposes as important locational factors. Apart from
kinship, the other factors were differentially considered in the four low income residential
areas.
The other "Pull" and "Push" factors were observed to be availability of market for goods
and services offered by the urban low income households, peaceful neighbourhood,
cleaner environment, good roads and availability of electricity. The importance of rent
and distance from place of work as locational factors were underlined.
The study further established a distinct relationship between area of residence and
mobility (P Value = 0.0033) at alpha level of 0.05, and mobility and age (P Value =
0.0177) but that this mobility was not dependent on the sex of the head of the households.
Younger people tended to move or change residence more than older people, with 84.3%
of those who had moved, falling between the ages of 18-30 years. It emerged that there
was a tendency for rent to increase with mobility in Nyalenda and Obunga (P Value = .
0.021). The tendency to reduce rent with mobility, as was observed in Manyatta and
Kaloleni, was not statistically significant and it was shown that average rent levels was
the same, and movement was horizontal. While 72.3% of low income households walk
to their places, it was shown that more than 50% cover 6-12 km daily one way, with
different residential areas having different mean distances covered. However, it was
observed that although there was a tendency for mean distances to decrease, it was not
statistically significant, Average distances before and after moving were equal.
Of the factors which were ranked, rent,' income level, distance from work place and room
size were ranked higher than the rest, respectively and even though security was not listed
for ranking, it emerged as an important factor. The revelations of the study calls for a
renewed effort to reduce rural-urban migration by making the rural areas more attractive
for informal sector investment.
Further, it calls for enactment and enforcement of by-laws which provide for minimum
room sizes to be constructed by the private sector in the provision of houses for low
income households. | en |
