Mobility and in Economic Informality by Gender in Nairobi

Abstract

Mobility in Economic Informality by Gender in Nairobi/Mobility including the movement of persons and goods is major constraint in a large majority of African cities. Mobility is even more constrained for people who are engaged in economic informality. The 2012 economic survey reports that 2.7 people are engaged in economic informality in Nairobi while the ILO 2002 report estimates that 83% of informal operators in Kenya are women. These people make journeys to and from work and also transport stock, raw materials and finished products within the city as well as to or from the city. It is therefore imperative to investigate the gender dimension of this movement more so because women s movement is constrained because of their gender and also because women tend to dominate the informal economy. This paper seeks to investigate the gender dimensions of movement of persons and goods in economic informality in Nairobi. The paper demonstrates that there are gender based differences in the way men and women in economic informality move in Nairobi. Differences also exist in choice and reasons for movement in the city. Mobility is a source of empowerment for women.