Migration survey in Kisumu town

Abstract

In studying internal migration scholars of population studies have recognized four typologies, namely, rural-rural, rural-urban, urban-urban and urban-rural.. Most migration studies in Kenya have pivoted around rural-urban migration. This may be attributed to the fact that polarized development has occurred in urban centers to which migrants are attracted due to good job opportunities, availability of better educational, medical and other facilities. Whereas the process has been adequately studied on a national scale, its documentation on a regional scale is badly lacking, This study was therefore aimed at satisfying this requirement besides collecting data that would be useful in future planning of Kisumu town and region. The town was stratified into three socioeconomic groups - low, medium and high income areas - from which samples were drawn. By interviewing those residents who were included in the sample, it was.possible to collect information, demographic and non-demographic, in the town. This was supplemented by other sources of information such as census data, municipality records and library material. Three basic items have been examined in this study. First, basic migration differentials have been discussed. Those include personal attributes of respondents such as ethnic group, tribal affiliation, sex, age, marital status, educational attainment and economic activity. It was found that Africans are predominant and of this ethnic group Luos are by far the majority in .the town. Also, male dominance was experienced although an anomalous sex ratio appeared among those aged 0-4 years where female dominance occurred. The peak of migration seems to be in the 20-29 age bracket, the youngest and best educated migrants. It became clear that high.education increases people's propensity to migrate since it enhances employment opportunities particularly in skilled jobs. Economic activity was the most significant migration differential as, among other things, it determines stabilisation in urban residence. town has been examined at two levels: on a national perspective by provinces of Kenya and on a regional scale within the Kisumu Region (the town's hinterland). At both levels home information proved to be more Second, Bpatial migration system of the reliable than birthplace as an index of determining iii migrants. It was realised that theoretical migration models which have been developed by scholars elsewhere had only a marginal bearing on this study. But the theoretical inverse relationship between migration and distance turned out to be true. Several causes of migration were identified the most significant being economic. I spatial physical planning has been probed into. The Kisumu Region is a "downward transitional" region where out-migration to "■•'•upward transitional" and "core" regions alleviates the burden imposed on its underdeveloped economy. Through physical planning and rural development programme, it is expected to dam floods of migrants from this region. Kisumu town occupies the highest position of the hierarchical structure of growth centres in West Kenya. There is need to adopt comprehensive urban and regional planning of metropolitan Kisumu taking cognizance of demographic realities. Planning of the town calls for an inventory of several facilities such as medical services, education and public transportation which require improvement as they are currently very inadequate. A few conclusions may be drawn to this Third, interdependence of migration and iv study. In tho first place provincial migrants are by far the majority in the town. But the town attracts ■ population irrespective of ethnic or political boundaries. Also, education tends to sharpen migrants* perceptions and aspirations and gravitates them to urban centers Economic reasons for migration were found to be paramount but non-economic factors should not be underestimated. similar surveys to be conducted in other major Kenya towns, Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru, Again, migration studios could conveniently incorporate other priority agricultural policies. Inter-disciplinary approach to this complex phenomenon is likely to produce even better results thereby blurring theoretical boundaries between different disciplines which have a stake in migration studies. Economic reasons for migration were Experience got from this study heralds interests, for example educational, manpower and