Impact of Cultural industries on urban development: a case of Wamunyu Centre, Machakos

Abstract

Kenya’s cultural industries, particularly the woodcarving handicraft industry plays a pivotal role in the spatial growth and economic empowerment of both rural and urban populations. These cultural industries have huge development impacts in positive and negative ways to the towns they are accommodated in, and their immediate hinterlands. The study investigated the impact of cultural industries on urban development, specifically, the woodcarving handicrafts among the Kamba community in Wamunyu urban centre, Mwala Constituency, Machakos County. Key objectives that guided the study included: understanding the structuring and functioning of the woodcarving industry in Wamunyu; investigating the operation of this woodcarving industry overtime and its impact on urban development of Wamunyu urban centreand proposing spatial planning interventions that can transform woodcarving activities into an effective industry in development of Wamunyu urban centre. The centre was purposively sampled because it is popularly known as the cradle of woodcarving in Kenya. The study applied participatory methodologies including in-depth desktop reviews, structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. A total of 160 woodcarvers were randomly selected from Wamunyu Handicraft Society, as it is currently the oldest woodcarving association in Kenya, dating back to 1965 and has the largest woodcarvers’ membership in Kenya. 15 area residents were randomly sampled as a control group to triangulate their findings with those of the woodcarvers. Other study key respondents included cooperative management officials and the County Government of Machakos officers of various departments; Physical Planning Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports; Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development and Department of Decentralised Urban Units; urban areas and municipalities. Questionnaires, in-depth interview guides, sketching, observation and photography were used in collecting data, which revealed certain significant aspects of the study. The findings indicated that the woodcarving industry was among the pioneer vectors of development within the urban centre. However, this activity had since declined over the years due to low investment and poor spatial planning of the woodcarving value chain and poor value chain management. The study recommended that spatial planning principles of urban design could revitalise the industry, promote sustainability of the industry and give the area a cultural identity.