Employment and income generation aspects in the informal sector: a case study of Karatina Town, Kenya
Abstract
The growing gap between the numbers of people
looking for jobs and the employment opportunities
that exist have led to the development of an urban
informal sector. The sector includes numerous
heterogenous activities which engage in small scale
production of goods and services.
This study, based on the small scale informal manufacturing
and repair activities in Karatina, explores
the employment and income generation aspects as
well as the acquisition.of artisan skills. The
study is set within the Government policy on the jua
kali sector and the concern over employment problems
in the country. The issues addressed to are employees
in each enterprise, earnings, savings, business
premises and credit facilities.
In order to establish the important role played by
small scale/informal sector in employment and income
generation, the study has employed suitable qualitative
techniques.
The study has emerged with a conclusion that slow development of the sector has been as a result of
various constraints which include lack of credit facilities, suitable premises, high licence fees and low demand for the goods.
Thus, the recommendations are geared towards easing these retardive forces, mainly that the agencies concerned with the development of small scale/ informal enterprises should improve their lending procedures and conditions.
Local authority laws and regulations pertaining to the use of land in urban areas should be revised with an aim to accommodating informal activities within these areas.
Citation
M.ASponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of Planning