Street Food Vendors and Food Access: a Comparative Study of Viwandani and Buru-buru Residential Areas in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This was a comparative study between Viwandani and Buruburu residential areas, where demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics were used to assess the contribution of street food vendors to urban food access. The objectives of the study were to; a) compare the demographic and socio-economic characteristics (education, income, gender, age, marital status and experience) of the street food vendors, b) Map and characterize the street food types sold in Viwandani and Buruburu, c) Assess the contribution of street foods to urban food access, d) Analyze the sources of food sold in the study area. Primary data were obtained from a census survey administered to one hundred and four street food vendors in the study region. Geographic Information Systems were used to examine the mapping data, while descriptive statistics were utilized to evaluate the socioeconomic data. The results showed that vendors were concentrated along the main roads, railway line and footpaths forming a linear pattern. Women comprised majority (73%) of food vendors in Viwandani, and 68% in Buru Buru. The majority of the food vendors in Buru Buru were more educated than their counterparts in Viwandani. In addition, 55% of the food vendors in Buru Buru have worked in the street food business for 2 to 5 years while those in Viwandani were the most experienced having worked for over 10 years. An observation was made that the food sellers failed clean fresh food appropriately. Food vendors interviewed prepared their foods in unhygienic environmental conditions near dusty roads. T h e y sourced their food from formal markets, informal markets, shops, farms, and wholes. The government is recommended to invest in the street foods as it generates jobs and provides inexpensive food to urban dwellers.