The impact of socio-economic variables on the spatial and structural patterns of rural houses in Ukambani, Kenya

Abstract

The different forms taken by houses are complex phenomena, for which no single explanation will suffice. All possible explanations, however, are variations of a single theme: people with different attitudes and ideals respond to physical and cultural environments differently. These response's vary from place ~o place because of changes and differences in the ,interplay of cultural, economic 'and social variables. The primary purpose. of this~ study was to investigate the impact of socio- I . * economics variables on the spatial and structural patterns of rural houses in Ukamban5-, Kenya. The analysis indicates that there exists a relationship between the socio-economic inequalities and the Bouse-types in the study area. In all, three house-types were identified: Temporary, Semi-permanent, and Permanent structures. Un~er temporary category, a~l tradit40nal Akamba (inhabitants of Ukambani) house forms were incl~ded; semi-permanent, covered all house forms 'in transition' between the new (improved) forms and and the traditional structural units;* *: Terms explained in Section 1.6 (ii) under permanent houses were included the new forms of houses made of galvanized iron, cement and stones. The temporary, semi-permanent and permanent houses were associated with grand-parents, parents and sons respectively, thus displaying house~type generation differentials. , I i Regional house-type differences were also identified. Permanent houses were most prevalent - near the district. Headquarters and the main Rural Centres. Thus, occurrence of .permanent t buildings seemed to take a distance decay function from the main urban centres within the rural settlements of Ukambani. By using a multivariate technique of '. Multiple Regression analysis (stepwise), an attempt was made to identify the main social -and economic variables underlying~ the spatial and structural house-type differentiation in Ukambani. An.analysis of a vast spectrum of variables on the house-type differences, indicated that amongst other things, income , education, occupation , geographical mobilities, marital status, residential preferences, * priorities and prestige are among the most important determinants in the Akamba Society. *: Terms explained in section 1.6

Finally, the findings of the study were related to the planning policies and·bousing problems in the rural areas of Kenya. Given the broad socio-economic inequalities and the house type differentials in Ukambani, it i~ clear that the policies of distribution and allocation of sparse ~resources in.Kenya need a revision. One may tend to question whether the planning policies safeguard only the interests of the small group of rural working (wage-earning) people and the urban dwellers. By and large, the socia-economic conditions extant in Ukambani have ~reated large 'd i spar Ities in housing: unde str-abLe t-temporary grass thatched houses for the least advantaged Akamba people amongst galvanized iron, .cement-stone structural units for .the wel-to do' Akamba people. Principles of social justice in allocation and distribution of social benefits like housing should ensure. that the interests and the needs of the least fortunate rural Kenyans are also looked after. The conclusion's arrived at in this study also are consistent with the theories of social change and also similar to findings of previous researches . . conducted elsewhere.