Factors Affecting Performance and Functionality of Rural Market Centers in Central Alego Ward, Siaya County - Kenya-a Study of Boro, Ndere and Ratuoro Markets

Abstract

This study sets out to examine factors that influence the performance, functionality and growth of three rural market centres in Central Alego ward of Siaya County -western Kenya, with a view to proposing measures to improve their performance and functionality. The three centres are Boro, Ndere and Ratuoro. They exist to serve the immediate economic and social needs of people who reside in their rural periphery, and are expected to provide a satisfactory level of service to the rural community. However, it has been observed that in many cases market centres do not perform the functions that they are designed for to an optimal level. The specific objectives of the study are to determine the current performance level of the market centres; to enumerate the factors that contribute to this level; to assess the functionality of the centres; and to propose measures by which their performance and functionality can be improved. The study explores concepts enunciated in the “growth pole” theory of economic development and the attendant “growth centre” policy framework, in which the market centre is regarded as a magnet that attracts goods, services and people to itself and disseminates the same to the rural surrounding through “spread” and “backwash” effects. A sample of 197 respondents comprising traders and consumers from the three market centres was selected. Questionnaires were administered to these respondents mainly through convenience sampling. Other primary data was obtained from key informants in national and county government offices, and from informal group discussions that were held with identified stakeholders such as motorcycle (boda boda) riders and traders‟ representatives. SPSS was used to analyse statistical data, while GIS was used for spatial data. Findings indicate that the level of performance of the three centres is generally low. Retail shops, which constitute 14.8% of businesses at the centres, mostly deal with low order goods such as salt, sugar, soaps, bread and milk. Low business turnover, unemployment and low incomes have contributed to poor performance by restricting cash flow and investment. Absence of commercial agriculture in the surrounding farmlands has contributed to there being no agro-industrial enterprises, which would have provided employment and created opportunities to generate income. . Furthermore, the centres are not very effective in performing their functions either because they are not well planned, as is the case with Ratuoro, or because their plans have not been revised and updated to cope with current development trends. Uncontrolled development in the immediate agricultural neighbourhoods has resulted in irregular and sometimes haphazard spatial patterns of growth that have not encouraged structured settlement in vi the centres. There is need to revise old development plans and prepare new ones where applicable. Beside encouraging farmers to grow hardy crops such as cassava and sorghum for commercial purposes, the county government should embark on exploiting the two most prominent resources namely Yala Swamp and Lake Kanyaboli for cotton, rice, pulses, aquaculture and tourism through public private partnerships. A study of the relationship of rural market centres to urban areas under whose circle of influence they fall with a view to strengthening the linkages between them would be of complement to this research