The effects of interactions between rural trading centres and their hinterlands: a case study of " Kagio market, Kirinyaga District.

Abstract

There is need to understand the mutual effects of ~ral-urban interaction, especially as regards - small rural towns and their immediate hinterlands since they constitute the majority of urban centres in Kenya. This will in turn as~ liliowing what contributions they make to the national economy and the roles that the lay in national development, as well as identify their potentials and limitations. Such kno ledge will in turn facilitate the suggesting of measures that are needed for establishing realistic goals and programmes that will enable them to co-exist beneficially. In addition, the way in which goods and services shift between rural and urban areas of various sizes needs to be understood if investment efforts are not to be misdirected. It is because of this that the Kenyan government, international donors, economists and planners should have an appreciation how small rural urban centres and their immediate hinterlands can be integrated into the national economy. This study examines the effects of interactions between rural trading centres and their immediate hinterland using Kagio town in Kirinyaga District as a case study. Chapter one presents an introduction to the study, the problem statement, hypothesis, objectives of the study, significance, scope, and the research methodology of the study. Chapter two forms the conceptual framework of the study; it consists of the literature reVIew. . Chapter three gives a brief background of the study area in relation to the geographical, social-cultural, and economic aspects. Chapter four presents the information analysed from data collected from the field study. Interviews, questionnaires, general discussions and observations were the main data sources for this study. Chapter five gives a summary of the findings and conclusions made from this study. This chapter also relates the findings with the literature reviewed. In addition, it also makes recommendations based on these findings and conclusions. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that Kagio is a vital linkage point from which its immediate hinterland is connected to other regions: