By and large, the migration trends characterizing Kenya and expounded by the International Organization for Migration (2015) are irregular migration, refugees, emigration/immigration and internal migration. Kenya is a regional hub for both irregular and legal migration and moreover the host country of the largest refugee populations in Africa (IOM 2015).
Given the aim of the study, internal migration is the trend analyzed. It refers to the “movement of people from one area of a country to another for the purpose or with the effect of establishing a new residence. This migration may be temporary or permanent. Internal migrants move but remain within their country of origin” (IOM 2011, 51).
In the field of internal migrations it has been proved that Kenya experiences both forced displacement and voluntary migration. It influences population structure and distribution in a country and is becoming increasingly dynamic and complex in nature (ACP 2010).
Internal migration can be categorized by type: in-migration or out-migration or,
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1. Historical Evolution of Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration
Urbanization is the process whereby a parcel of persons collectively settles in an area, eventually developing social institutions that include businesses and government, in order to support themselves as a system. Urban areas are generally characterized as relatively densely populated thus referred to as settlements (Nyaura 2014). To a large extent, the direction of migration flows reflect a country’s level of urbanization and rural-urban migration is conspicuous because it underlines the disparity between the two areas (Oucho 2007).
It can be stated that urbanization in Kenya is almost entirely a 20th century phenomenon and largely a product of British colonial administration. During the period 1895-1963, many of Eastern Africa’s major contemporary towns and cities were established (NCPD 2013).
The Colonial
European contact with sub-Saharan Africa around the 1500’s was not mutually beneficial because they had different needs. The economic exchanges and political relationships were based off of European’s relations with the Upper class of Africa, however not the majority of Africa. Due to the massive expansion of Europe, they wanted to continue to grow, and the only way to do that was to open trading ports all around the world. In the end, Europe benefited from trading with Africa and they are the ones who ended up
The achievements of the areas of the Sub-Saharan region sooner than their substantial relationship with substitute frameworks had been the satisfaction of the all inclusive community in Sub-Saharan Africa, their fine art culture, and their law and value structure. Inside the Sub-Saharan locale of African, people have been genuinely effective. They were successful for a couple of intentions like tutoring. for instance, in document 2 which was formed by Leo Africanus in the mid sixteenth century, states how in Timbuktu, there has been numerous specialists, judges, ministers and distinctive insightful men which may be exceptionally a considerable measure kept up on the ruler's cost. It similarly is going in advance to clarify
Various manuscripts and written books are brought here… and sold for more money than other merchandise.” This quote shows that Timbuktu was the home of many advanced careers, and was an extremely resourceful place, which attracted many scholars and merchants. It was the most developed, and prestigious city of the era, and was considered to have been the golden age of Africa due to all of its accomplishments. Timbuktu was the city of knowledge, the city of trade, and the city of
Europe’s colonization upon Africa transformed their society however the differences between these civilizations forced changes upon Africa’s society and past cultures and
During the 15th century, the world was caught in the age of exploration. After Columbus, everyone realized that there were still undiscovered land masses that held numerous resources and extreme profit. Due to the fact that the Americas were occupied by Spain and Portugal, much of Europe turned its eyes to Africa. Consequently, Africa was a huge land mass that was just waiting to be explored, especially since Portugal hadn’t gone beyond the outer edge. The reasons for European imperialism in Africa were due to the want for more resources to boost the economy, the advantage of better technology, and a need to establish a position of power.
In History of Africa, Shillington focuses on many aspects of African culture and factors that made Africa to be the continent that it is today. Chapter 5 primarily focuses on the Northern region of Africa and how empires took over and spread their ideology technology, and culture all through out the region. Even today some remnants of the Roman and Greek empire live on to this day (Shillington, 69.) Despite many people getting the impression that Northern Africa is only influenced by Arabic and Islam, these empires and their conquests are best understood through topics like intricate trading routes, farming, and the spread of religion. Shillington provides an in depth analysis of how many of these conquests affected Northern Africa centuries ago and today.
By having no tolerance for crime, the rulers had very successful kingdoms with complete control over them(Doc. 6). Whether it be the close proximity to other parts of the world, the barren deserts, or the rainforests, Africa’s people have been aided in their success by the continent’s natural advantages. A map showing trade routes, this document is the perfect example of Africa’s prime location. Right near Europe and Asia, trading routes in northern and eastern Africa flourished(Doc 1). Although this is another trade route map, it gives us more insight on the routes that were used to get to other parts of the world, such as Asia.
The estimated number of refugees leaving their own country since World War II is one hundred million ("Refugee”). A refugee is a person who has left their country because of fear of their safety due to violence, race, religion, or war. Supporting and solving today’s refugee crisis is especially controversial because of the current events, financing, and security issues. ("Refugee Facts”). Climate change and natural disasters sometimes cause people to leave their homes or countries.
So Europe invaded Africa, took possession of Africa, and divided Africa into colonies of Europe. The period of invasion, lasting some twenty years, was more or less completed by 1900. There followed a longer period, between sixty and ninety years, of direct European rule, called colonial rule. This was a time of profound upheaval for all of Africa’s peoples. It brought irreversible changes” (4).
Colonialism greatly impacted African and South American countries, both positively and negatively. Although it took away Senegal’s independence, gaining power for the French, it served more to unite the indigenous population, as seen through the increasing economic development and unifying role of Islam, and generally had positive effects on Senegal. French colonization helped with the initial modern development of Senegal. “During this time, the French sought to modernize its colonial empire in Africa, investing in infrastructure within and between major Senegalese cities.” Senegal used to be inhabited and occupied by ethnic groups and kingdoms; since the colonization, the French modernized Senegal’s infrastructures, strengthened the economy,
In the race of European imperialism, European countries dominated innocent African colonies. The driving force behind this? Africa’s bountiful resources. Before Africa’s colonization, the European presence in Africa was extremely limited, mainly due to lack of exploration and diseases (Background Essay). However, this changed as European prominence became largely influential through the discovery of Africa’s resource rich lands.
During the period of imperialism in Africa all of the countries were competing for the title of being the richest and the strongest. In fact, the whole scramble for Africa was an opportunity for countries to enhance their overall economy. For example, King Leopold II of Belgium was determined to get the area of land so he can become more wealthy. France’s politicians thought that an overseas company would strengthen the country when it came to wealth, prestige, and power, so as a result they invested in land more toward the west and north-west. Britain wanted to protect their trading routes which required them to purchase land in East Africa, and they they soon discovered the rewards of the land so the were determined to obtain as much as possible.
Kingsley Davis, who is said to have pioneered the study of historical urban demography wrote his “The Urbanization of the Human population” in 1965. In his essay, he states that the history of the world is in fact the history of urbanization and then begins with description of how tiny European settlements grew slowly through the Middle Ages and the early modern period. According to him, urbanization occurred mainly because of rural-urban migration and not the other factors that people believe. He discusses how the production levels of this time period, due to the feudal system, used to favor an agrarian culture and then how the process of urbanization intensified during the 1900s, especially in Great Britain. He then clarifies the difference between urbanization, which he describes as the process of a society becoming more urban-focused, and the growth of cities i.e. the expansion of their boundaries.
The Neoclassical theory involves the macroeconomic and microeconomic aspect. Macro focusing on structural factors and microeconomic focusing on an individual choice to migrate (Weiss, 2003). The macro theory is perhaps the most well-known approach explaining the causes of migration, it came from the theoretical model explaining internal labor migration in light of economic development (Corry 1996, Harris and Todaro 1970). According to the theory assumptions: 1.
Urbanization is causing economic transformation in Africa, confirmed when we observe industry and services. Industry grows in more urbanized areas. Employment in industry varies from 6.1% in less urbanized areas to 26.1% in the most urbanized areas. Industrial value added is also linked to urbanization. While it accounts for 18.3% in the less urbanized areas, it accounts for 39.0% in the most urbanized areas.