Urban Integration in Africa: A Socio-Demographic Survey of Naïrobi

Authors

Philippe Bocquier
Institut de recherche pour le developpement, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, London School of Economics and Political Science, Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, Union for African Population Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Université Catholique de Louvain, Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
Alfred T. A. Otieno
Anne A. Khasakhala
International Institute for Population Sciences, University of Nairobi, Workers College Kwa-Zulu Natal
Samuel Owuor
African Studies Centre, Kenyatta University, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen afdeling van de taalwetenschap, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, South Eastern Kenya University, University of Amsterdam, University of Bordeaux, University of Jyväskylä, University of Nairobi, University of the Western Cape
DOI: https://doi.org/10.57054/codesria.pub.133

Keywords:

Africa, Integration, Naïrobi

Synopsis

CODERIA, 2009, 207 p., ISBN : 078-2-86978-229-7

Nairobi is the main door to the East African market and a safe haven for most international firms and organizations, yet it nurtures so much poverty. Part of the explanation is embedded in the social history of today’s citizens of Nairobi. This book is based on the collection of almost 1600 biographies of men and women aged 25-54.

A team composed of researchers from the University of Nairobi and the French Institute for Research in Africa analysed how the Nairobi city-dwellers entered the labour market, had access to independent residence and form their families since the 1960s, and the factors that influence timing of these main paths to adulthood. The results show that men’s entry into adulthood is conditioned on employment, whereas women did not emancipate from their role of mother and spouse. Socio-cultural origins and migration status play a minor role in urban integration while education and gender are crucial. The formal economy declined since the 1980s, not as much to the benefit of informal enterprises as to the expense of the protection of employees. At the same time, youth unemployment increased while women’s labour force participation decreased.

The resulting poverty makes it harder for couples to form and sustain a family. This book is an important resource to sociologist, demographers, economists, urban planners and historians who want to know more about urban way of life in Africa.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Philippe Bocquier, Institut de recherche pour le developpement, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, London School of Economics and Political Science, Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, Union for African Population Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Université Catholique de Louvain, Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne

at the time of writing, was a researcher at the French Institute for Research and Development (IRD) and member of the Research Unit ‘Development, Institutions, and Long-term Analysis (DIAL)’, Paris. He is now senior lecturer at the Demography and Population Studies Programme of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Dr Bocquier specialises in the fields of urbanisation, migration, child health, urban employment and entry into adulthood in Africa, using event history analysis.

Alfred T. A. Otieno

is a lecturer at the Population Studies and Research Institute, University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has been involved in extensive research on fertility and reproductive health. He teaches courses in demography, with special focus on statistics and social science research. Dr Otieno’s research interests cover adolescent transitions to adulthood, fertility and migration.

Anne A. Khasakhala, International Institute for Population Sciences, University of Nairobi, Workers College Kwa-Zulu Natal

is a lecturer at Population Studies and Research Institute, University of Nairobi, Kenya. She teaches courses in demographic techniques, population and health. Dr. Khasakhala’s research interests are in areas of child health and development; maternal and reproductive health; adolescent sexuality and health; and social aspects of HIV, among others.

Samuel Owuor, African Studies Centre, Kenyatta University, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen afdeling van de taalwetenschap, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, South Eastern Kenya University, University of Amsterdam, University of Bordeaux, University of Jyväskylä, University of Nairobi, University of the Western Cape

is a senior lecturer in urban geography at the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya, and an affiliate researcher at the African Studies Centre in Leiden, the Netherlands, the French Institute of Research in Africa (IFRA-Nairobi), and at the Centre for Urban Research (Nairobi). Dr Owuor’s research interests include urban development, governance and management; urban poverty, livelihoods and food security; and urban-rural links.

Downloads

PDF file

Published

November 7, 2009

Series

CODESRIA Books
Copyright (c) 2009 CODESRIA Books Publication System