disaster mitigation in informal markets - architecture...
TRANSCRIPT
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI,
SCHOOL OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING SCIENCE.
DISASTER MITIGATION IN INFORMAL MARKETS:
A CASE OF TOI MARKET, NAIROBI
A RESEARCH THESIS.
AUTHOR: MUTIE SAMUEL MUSYOKI
REG. NO: B02/0787/2010
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DECLARATION
This thesis is my original work and has not been presented in any University or Institution for the purpose of awarding a degree to the best of
my knowledge.
Author ……………………………………………………………………………………. Date ……………………………………………………
Mutie Samuel Musyoki B02/0787/2010
It is submitted in partial fulfilment of the examination requirement for the award of Bachelor of Architecture degree, in the Department of
Architecture and Building Science at the University of Nairobi.
Tutor………………………………………………………………………………. Date…………………………………………………
Arch. Edwin Oyaro
Year master …………………………………………………………………… Date …………………………………………………
Prof. T.J.C Anyamba
Chairman ………………………………………………………………………… Date …………………………………………………
Arch. Musau Kimeu
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To God, the Architect of life.
Special thanks to my Mum and Dad for the numerous sacrifices, love and unwavering support through this journey. You inspire me every day
to be better. My siblings Dan, Liz and Mannu for the support you gave me not forgetting the inspiration from my learned grandpa (42). My late
grannies, Ruth and Alice, I will forever be grateful for their guardianship and tutelage.
I would like to thank my lecturers in the Department of Architecture and Building Science, at the University of Nairobi; my tutor Arch. Edwin
Oyaro for your wise counsel and diligent guidance throughout the writing of this Thesis, Prof. Tom Anyamba, Prof. Jerry Magutu, Prof. Robert
Rukwaro, Dr. Laban Shihembetsa, Dr. Alfred Omenya, Arch. Musau Kimeu, Arch Erastus Abonyo, Arch. Yasir Brek, Arch. Allan Otieno, Arch. Adnan
Mwakulomba, Arch. Kamau Karogi, Arch. Eliud Liku, Arch. Yusuf Ebrahim, Arch. Nobert Musyoki, Arch. Joseph Kamenju, Arch. Kigara Kamweru,
Arch. Pami Thathi and Des. Kahare Miano.
To the director of markets Nairobi City County Mr. Hari R. Mwahari and the administrators at Toi and Kariokor markets for facilitating this
academic inquest.
To the ‘Since Day One crew’ and the rest of my classmates for the memories forged. It has been exciting six years full of fun and cheer.
God bless you.
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 JUSTIFICATION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
1.7 LIMITATIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
1.9 STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH………………………………………………………………………………………………………......................................................................................6
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF INFORMAL MARKETS IN NAIROBI .......................................................................................................................................... 11
2.2.1 COLONIAL PERIOD ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.2.2 POST COLONIAL PERIOD ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3 TYPOLOGIES OF INFORMAL MARKETS ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.3.1 MODE OF OPERATION ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.3.2 LOCATION OF THE MARKETS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 14
2.3.3 EXISTING FACILITIES .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2.4 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DISASTERS IN INFORMAL MARKETS ......................................................................................................................................... 18
2.4.1 POOR INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.4.2 SPACE USE CONFLICT ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 23
2.5 DISASTER MITIGATION SOLUTIONS FOR INFORMAL SECTOR REDEVELOPMENT. ................................................................................................................... 27
2.5.1 CASE 01: AMHEDABAD STREET MARKET – AMHEDABAD, INDIA .................................................................................................................................... 27
2.5.2 CASE 02: BROOK STREET MARKET, DURBAN .................................................................................................................................................................... 31
2.5.3 CASE 03: KEJETIA MARKET – KUMASI, GHANA ................................................................................................................................................................. 36
2.5.4 CASE 04: MUNTINLUPA MARKET - PHILIPHINES ............................................................................................................................................................... 39
2.6 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43
3.2 RESEARCH PURPOSE ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43
3.3 RESEARCH STRATEGY ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
3.3.1 WHY TOI MARKET? ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44
3.4 TIME HORIZON ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44
3.5 DATA SOURCES ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 44
3.5.1 DATA COLLECTION ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45
3.5.2 DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
3.5.3 DATA PRESENTATION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45
4.0 ANALYSIS OF TOI MARKET
4.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 48
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4.2 HISTORY OF TOI MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 48
4.3 SCALE OF ANALYSIS OF TOI MARKET ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 50
4.4 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF TOI MARKET ........................................................................................................................................................................... 51
4.5 NEIGHBOURHOOD AND CONTEXT ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………50
4.6 EVOLUTION OF THE SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF TOI MARKET ............................................................................................................................................... 52
4.7 DISASTER MITIGATION STRATEGIES IN TOI MARKET………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...52
4.7.1 ACTIVITY ZONING IN THE MARKET ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 53
4.7.2 ACCESS AND CIRCULATION ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 55
4.7.3 TYPOLOGIES ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 58
4.7.4 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 66
4.7.5 DRAINAGE SYSTEMS .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 68
4.7.6 SANITATION ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 70
4.8 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND DATA ANALYSIS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...71
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 74
5.2 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 74
5.2.1 CONCLUSION ON THE CHALLENGES FACED IN INFORMAL MARKETS IN TERMS OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS IN
VARIOUS CASES. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 74
5.2.2 CONCLUSION ON THE DISASTER MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND THEIR SHORTCOMINGS AS MANISFESTED IN TOI MARKET. ....................................... 76
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..........................78
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2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Fig 2. 1: A busy street in Gikomba market Nairobi. .................................. 10
Fig 2. 2: Access of Toi market from Woodley estate. ............................... 10
Fig 2. 3: The segregation of residential areas in Nairobi, 1909................. 11
Fig 2. 4: A section of Gikomba market in the 1980s. ................................ 12
Fig 2. 5: Gikomba market in 1988. ............................................................ 12
Fig 2. 6: A mobile market – handcart. ....................................................... 13
Fig 2. 7: A section of Ngara market in Nairobi. ......................................... 13
Fig 2. 8: Aerial view of City stadium market in Nairobi along Jogoo road 14
Fig 2. 9: A map showing the context of City Stadium market .................. 15
Fig 2. 10: A street market in India. ........................................................... 16
Fig 2. 11: A street market in Nairobi ........................................................ 16
Fig 2. 12: Open stalls in Kangemi market. ................................................ 17
Fig 2. 13: Drainage system in form of shallow channels along the
walkways of Toi market. ........................................................................... 18
Fig 2. 14: A city council worker unblocking drainage channels in Donholm
roundabout market, Nairobi. .................................................................... 18
Fig 2. 15: Solid waste accumulation Kangemi market. ............................ 19
Fig 2. 16: A solid waste heap in Ngara market. ........................................ 19
Fig 2. 17: A makeshift toilet facility for City stadium market traders. ..... 20
Fig 2. 18: Temporary stalls along one of the walkways in Toi market ..... 21
Fig 2. 19: Temporary stalls in Kariokor open air market. ......................... 21
Fig 2. 20: A muddy pedestrian walkway in Gikomba market, Nairobi. .... 22
Fig 2. 21: A congested pedestrian and vehicular access in Gikomba
market, Nairobi. ........................................................................................ 22
Fig 2. 22: Githurai roundabout market along Thika super highway. ....... 23
Fig 2. 23: Githurai roundabout market along Thika super highway. ....... 23
Fig 2. 24: Encroachment in to pedestrian circulation path in Kariokor
open air market along Ring Road Ngara ................................................... 24
Fig 2. 25: Stalls constructed on a roadside drainage channel in Woodley
market, Nairobi ......................................................................................... 25
Fig 2. 26: Stalls constructed on the power line way leave in Gikomba
market, Nairobi. ........................................................................................ 26
Fig 2. 27: Illegal power connection in Kibera slums next to Toi market. . 26
Fig 2. 28: A section through the market................................................... 28
Fig 2. 29: An elevation of the market from the private area. .................. 28
Fig 2. 30: Amhedabad street market layout plan after intervention. ...... 28
Fig 2. 31: The 3R concept for sustainable solid waste management. ....... 29
Fig 2. 32: Solid waste disposal containers which allow separation of solid
waste. ........................................................................................................ 30
Fig 2. 33: Portable solid waste disposal containers .................................. 30
Fig 2. 34: Brook street market before redevelopment. ........................... 31
Fig 2. 35: Aerial view of Brook street market. .......................................... 31
Fig 2. 36: A shopping concourse after intervention. ................................ 32
Fig 2. 37: The circulation areas were decongested after intervention .... 32
Fig 2. 38: Creation of retail space in the first to ease congestion in the
limited space. ............................................................................................ 33
Fig 2. 39: Use of a pedestrian bridge with ramps for barrier free
walkways. .................................................................................................. 33
Fig 2. 40: Different classes of fires which can break out in a market. ..... 34
Fig 2. 41: Aerial view of Kejetia market. .................................................. 36
Fig 2. 42: A section of the market on fire in September 2015. ................ 36
Fig 2. 43: The existing open drain in Kejetia market ................................ 37
Fig 2. 44: The proposed interventions in terms of storm water control in
Kejetia market. .......................................................................................... 37
LIST OF FIGURES
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Fig 2. 45: The proposed interventions ..................................................... 37
Fig 2. 46: Permeable paving allows run off water to infiltrate to the
ground. ...................................................................................................... 38
Fig 2. 47: Use of tree box filter to control surface run off. ...................... 38
Fig 2. 48: Aerial view of Muntilupa public market – Philipines. ................ 39
Fig 2. 49: Waste water treatment interventions incorporated in
Muntinlupa public market. ....................................................................... 39
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Fig 3.1: An infographic showing the research strategy that was use………43
Fig 3.2: An infographic showing how the case study design was used……44
Fig 3.3: A Sony digital camera…………………………………………………………..……45
Fig 3.4: A 3.5 metres long Komelon tape measure…………………………………45
Fig 3.5: Part of the fresh produce section in Toi market.……………………… 46
Fig 3.6: A computer generated image of a fresh produce stall in Toi
market.………………………………………………………………………………………………. 46
Fig 3.7: A field sketch representing a stall for selling mitumba in Toi market………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46
4.0 ANALYSIS OF TOI MARKET
Fig 4. 1: Pedestrian entrance to the market from Kibera drive. ............... 48
Fig 4. 2: customers lined up at cloth stall in Toi market. ........................... 48
Fig 4. 3: Aerial view of Toi market from Kibera plaza. .............................. 49
Fig 4. 4: The market was destroyed by fire during the 2008 post-election
violence. .................................................................................................... 49
Fig 4. 5: A cluster of stalls in Toi market next to the service yard. There are
different clusters of stalls in Toi market. .................................................. 50
Fig 4. 6: Analysis of Toi market and its context in terms of activity zoning,
circulation and access is part of the study. ............................................... 50
Fig 4. 7: A unit stall in the fresh produce section. There exist different
typologies of stalls in Toi market. ............................................................. 50
Fig 4. 8: Geographical location of Toi market. .......................................... 51
Fig 4. 9: Neighbourhood and context of Toi market. ................................. 51
Fig 4. 10: Toi market before 2007 ............................................................. 52
Fig 4. 11: Toi market after 2007. ............................................................... 52
Fig 4. 12: The stalls next to the service yard after the reconstruction of the
market by the traders. ................................................................................ 52
Fig 4. 13: The stalls next to the service yard before the post-election
violence fire razed the market. .................................................................. 52
Fig 4. 14: The ablution block next to the furniture .................................... 53
Fig 4. 15: The food court stalls next to Woodley Estate. ........................... 53
Fig 4. 16: Cereals and grain stalls along the Vehicular access to the market.
.................................................................................................................. 53
Fig 4. 17: One of the charcoal stalls along the vehicular access next to
Kibera plaza .............................................................................................. 53
Fig 4. 18: The furniture and wood stalls next to little prince primary school.
.................................................................................................................. 53
Fig 4. 19: Customers lining up at the fresh produce stalls next to the service
yard ........................................................................................................... 53
Fig 4. 20: The distribution of different commercial activities in Toi market.
Source: Author, 2015 ................................................................................ 53
Fig 4. 21: The mitumba stalls along one of the main pedestrian walkways.
.................................................................................................................. 53
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Fig 4. 22: The charcoal vending stalls have been segregated from the rest
of the stalls. ............................................................................................... 54
Fig 4. 23: The food vending stalls have been separated from the rest of
the stalls by wide pedestrian walkways. ................................................... 54
Fig 4. 24: One of the main pedestrian access running in North-South
orientation ................................................................................................ 55
Fig 4. 25: Pedestrian access to the market from Joseph Kangethe road .. 55
Fig 4. 26: One of the many tertiary pedestrian pathways in the market. 55
Fig 4. 27: Vehicular access to the service yard. The access is also a
secondary pedestrian access to the market. ............................................... 55
Fig 4. 28: Vehicular access road branching off from Vehicular access road
branching off from Kibera drive. ............................................................... 55
Fig 4. 29: Vehicular and pedestrian access of Toi market. ........................ 55
Fig 4. 30: A secondary pedestrian path next to the furniture section. ..... 56
Fig 4. 31: A tertiary pedestrian path in the mitumba clothes section. ..... 56
Fig 4.32: Polythene sheets hanged above the circulation paths. ............. 57
Fig 4.33: Encroachment of trading activities along the circulation paths. 57
Fig 4.34: A typical layout plan of the mitumba clothes stalls. .................. 58
Fig 4.35: A cluster of the mitumba clothes stalls along one of the main
pedestrian routes. ..................................................................................... 58
Fig 4.36: A section through a unit mitumba clothes stall. ........................ 58
Fig 4.37: A cluster of mitumba clothes stalls oriented along one of the
main pedestrian walkways. ....................................................................... 58
Fig 4.38: A 3D representation of a mitumba clothes stall. ....................... 58
Fig 4.39: A section through a cluster of mitumba clothes stalls oriented
along one of the main pedestrian walkways. ........................................... 58
Fig 4.40: A section through a cluster of fresh produce stalls. ................... 59
Fig 4.41: A section through a cluster of fresh produce stalls. ................... 59
Fig 4.42: A section of a fresh produce stalls in Toi market. ...................... 59
Fig 4.43: A 3D impression of a fresh produce stall. .................................. 59
Fig 4.44: A layout plan of a cluster of fresh produce stalls. ...................... 59
Fig 4.45: A cluster of fresh produce stalls showing the circulation areas
and the arrangement of stalls. .................................................................. 59
Fig 4.46: A layout plan of an individual cereal stall. ................................. 60
Fig 4.47: A 3D impression of a cereal stall ................................................ 60
Fig 4.48: A layout plan for a cluster of cereals stalls along the vehicular
access route. ............................................................................................. 60
Fig 4.49: A cluster of the cereal stalls in Toi market. ................................ 60
Fig 4.50: A section through an individual cereal stall. .............................. 60
Fig 4.51: A section through a cluster of cereals stalls along the vehicular
access route. ............................................................................................. 60
Fig 4.52: A section through a cluster of charcoal and cereal stalls along the
vehicular access. ....................................................................................... 61
Fig 4.53: A layout plan of a charcoal stall. ................................................ 61
Fig 4.54: A 3D representation of a charcoal stall. ..................................... 61
Fig 4.55: A layout plan for a cluster of charcoal and cereal stalls along the
vehicular access. ....................................................................................... 61
Fig 4.56: A section through an individual charcoal stall. A layout plan of a
charcoal stall. ............................................................................................ 61
Fig 4.57: A cluster of charcoal stalls in Toi market. ................................... 61
Fig 4.58: A section through a cluster of food vending stalls and mitumba
clothes stalls. ............................................................................................. 62
Fig 4.59: A layout plan for cluster of food vending stalls and mitumba
clothes stalls in Toi market. ...................................................................... 62
Fig 4.60: A section of the food vending stalls to the north of the market 62
Fig 4.61: A 3D impression of food vending stalls. ..................................... 62
Fig 4.62: A layout plan of a unit food vending stall .................................. 62
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Fig 4.63: A section through a cluster of furniture stalls.63Fig 4.64: A layout
plan for cluster of furniture stalls in Toi market. ...................................... 63
Fig 4.65: A 3D impression of a unit furniture stall. ................................... 63
Fig 4.66: A layout plan of a unit furniture stall. ........................................ 63
Fig 4.67: Interior of one of the furniture stalls in Toi market. .................. 63
Fig 4.68: Section A-A through a unit furniture stall. ................................. 63
Fig 4.69: Open stalls take large area of the market .................................. 65
Fig 4.70: Enclosed stalls located at the periphery of the market. ............ 65
Fig 4.71: The solid waste disposal point in Toi market. ............................ 66
Fig 4.72: It also the service yard for the market. ...................................... 66
Fig 4.73: The access to the solid waste disposal point. ............................ 67
Fig 4.74: Drainage channels along one of the circulation paths in the
market. ...................................................................................................... 68
Fig 4.75: Covered channels along the vehicular access to the market. .... 69
Fig 4.76: Stagnant water on one of the open earth drains. ...................... 69
Fig 4.77: Sewer line for the ablution block next to the furniture section
being fixed in August 2015. ....................................................................... 70
Fig 4.78: A newly completed ablution facility next to the charcoal stalls. 70
Table 2.1: Functional elements and strategies of integrated solid waste management………………………………………………………………………………………...30 Table 5.1: Different scales of analysis of Toi market…………………………50 Table 5.2: A comparative analysis of the different typologies existing in Toi market…………………………………………………………………………………………....64 Table 5.3: A summary of data analysis and findings……………………………...71
LIST OF TABLES
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ABSTRACT
Informal markets form part of the informal urbanization and arise as a result of failure of the formal economy to absorb the growing numbers of
job seekers. The existing legislation does not effectively address the problems of Kenya’s informal economy, largely for lack of political will and
serious commitment by policy-makers. The traders have to come up with the spatial organization of the markets on their own. In most cases the
trading spaces utilized by informal traders lack adequate infrastructure facilities, and are often inadequate to accommodate the high demand for
trading space. This has left the traders exposed to disasters such as fire outbreaks, flooding, poor solid waste management and poor sanitation.
It is these challenges which necessitated the following study to investigate the challenges faced by traders in the informal markets in terms of
mitigating the above mentioned disasters and the various solutions which have been implemented in various cases. With Toi market as the case
study, the study looked in to the disaster mitigation strategies incorporated in the market and the evident shortcomings. The study draws effective
mitigation strategies to curb the problem of fire outbreaks, flooding, poor solid waste management and poor sanitation for future informal sector
development.
Through literature review, poor infrastructure and space use conflict were found as the factors contributing to disasters in informal markets. The
various solutions drawn from different desk studies involving informal sector development included effective storm water management, effective
and sustainable sanitation, resolving circulation conflict, fire safety measures in markets and effective solid waste management. These were used
as the variables for the analysis of Toi market.
The fieldwork analysis of Toi market highlighted that the traders had various disaster mitigation strategies incorporated in the redevelopment of
the market after it was razed down by fire in 2008. However, majority were not up to the required standards or were not implemented resulting to
a disaster prone environment which is not legible for business.
To mitigate this problem, the author proposes the following strategies; strict enforcement of activity zoning regulations, barrier free walkways,
segregation of vehicular and pedestrian movement, a construction technology which promotes fire safety, effective and sustainable sanitation,
effective storm water management.
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1.1 INTRODUCTION
Informal markets form part of the informal urbanization and arise as a result of failure of the
formal economy to absorb the growing numbers of job seekers. The existing legislation does
not effectively address the problems of Kenya’s informal economy, largely for lack of
political will and serious commitment by policy-makers. (UNHSP - HABITAT, 2006)
The urban informal sector contributes to urban development in multiple ways amongst
others, it generates employment for an expanding urban workforce as well as provides much
needed flexibility and innovation in the economy. In the absent of social welfare benefits,
the urban informal sector can also serve as an informal and natural mechanism of social
protection. As long as the modern formal employment sector falls short of providing the
much needed jobs for the ever-increasing urban populations, the informal sector will be here
for a long time. (Ouma, 2010)
Urban centres all over the world have one unifying characteristic; that of contested space
due to the rapid demographic and economic changes that the world is currently facing. The
emergence of informal markets in contested spaces in urban centres is hence linked to such
increases in populations, and the resulting economic changes and inability by the urban
centres to enter the global market place (Max, 2007; Brown, 2006).
3
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
The absence of clear policies has relegated the informal sector to fragile working
environments and competitive disadvantage compared larger formal firms in capital and
product markets. (Chen, 2012) Traders trade from insecure contested spaces. The vendors
have to come up with the spatial organization of the markets on their own. In most cases the
trading spaces utilized by informal traders lack adequate infrastructure facilities, and are
often inadequate to accommodate the high demand.
For instance, Toi market in Nairobi has undergone post disaster transformation overtime
with the vendors incorporating new strategies to ensure a more efficient approach in case of
another disaster. After the market was razed down by fire in 2008, the traders in conjunction
with Jamii Bora Trust came up with a new spatial organization during reconstruction of the
market. However, these strategies cannot withstand efficiently some of these disasters such
as fires, flooding, and epidemics outbreak. This is evident as part of the market was gutted
down by fire in November 2014 hence the need for more efficient strategies in terms of
disaster preparedness.
One of the goals for Nairobi Metropolitan development plan 2008 is to promote, develop,
and invest in sufficient public utilities, public services, and world-class infrastructure for
transforming Nairobi into a global competitive city for investment and tourism. The research
will help come up with strategies and recommendations to be applied in redevelopment of
4
these markets in Kenyan urban areas towards disaster resilience. The existing strategies by
the traders, though may be not effective, can be used to generate more effective ones.
1.3 RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To establish the challenges faced in informal markets in terms of disaster preparedness
and the possible solutions in various cases.
To investigate disaster preparedness strategies and their shortcomings as manifested in
Toi market.
To recommend effective disaster mitigation strategies, for future informal sector
development in Kenyan urban areas.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What are the challenges faced in informal markets and the possible solutions in terms of
disaster preparedness?
What disaster preparedness strategies and shortcomings are manifested in Toi market?
What effective disaster preparedness can be incorporated for future informal markets
development in Kenyan urban areas?
5
1.5 JUSTIFICATION
The author acknowledges that study in this field is not entirely new. However, there exists a
gap as previous researches on informal markets does not the issue of disaster and risk
preparedness in markets in Toi market.
This study is in line with the Kenya Government’s development blueprint – Vision 2030;
which aims to transform Kenya into a new industrialising, middle-income country providing
a high quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030. (Government of Kenya, 2008) Numerous
studies have shown that the informal sector has the potential to create more employment
opportunities than the formal sector. Solving the problem of high susceptibility to disasters
in informal markets is one step towards achieving the goal.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study of informal markets can be approached from economic, social, political and
architectural perspective. This research is limited to the planning and design of informal
markets and the relationship to disaster and risk preparedness. The study focuses on Toi
market in Nairobi as the case study looking both in to its historical background and the
existing scenario. Other cases globally have been chosen as part of the desk studies.
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1.7 LIMITATIONS
The following are the limitations likely to be encountered in this study:
Financial constraints: Due to limited financial resources, some research material may
prove difficult to acquire.
Time constraints: The academic time allocated may prove insufficient to carry out an in
depth investigation.
Hostility and insecurity: This is a common phenomenon in informal markets which may
affect the research fieldwork negatively.
1 .8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Mabati – Swahili word for corrugated iron sheets.
Mitumba – Local term for second hand clothing.
Informal market – Places where people would meet and exchange simple wares in a
rather casual and unlicensed manner.
Informal sector – Self-organized, unregistered activities undertaken by self-employed
persons in open air markets, market stalls and undeveloped plots or along streets within
urban centres with or without licenses.
1.9 STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH
Chapter One
It introduces the informal markets and their general characteristics and then introducing the
problems faced in informal markets and stating that there are existing strategies incorporated
7
by the traders to mitigate the problems. The chapter then highlights the objectives of the
research and the possible shortcomings which may be experienced in the course of the
research. Lastly, there is clear elaboration of the importance of this study.
Chapter Two
This chapter is an overview of relevant literature on informal markets in terms of the
historical background in Nairobi city where Toi market is located, the different typologies of
informal markets and factors behind the location of the informal markets. Moreover, there is
an overview of the factors causing disasters in informal markets and the various disaster
mitigation solutions incorporated in redevelopment of informal markets.
Chapter Three
This chapter shows various data collection tools used to carry out the research. The main
research method adopted however is the case study method. The collection method includes;
interviews to bring out the architectural issues taken in to account by the traders of the market,
observation using photography and sketches and measured drawings.
Chapter Four
This chapter provides briefly the historical transformation of Toi market. The spatial
organization of the market, the circulation systems, sanitation, solid waste management and
construction technology of the market is documented and analysed in relation to disaster
responsiveness, that is, fire safety, storm water management, solid waste management and
8
sanitation. The shortcomings of the above mentioned strategies are highlighted in this
chapter.
Chapter Five
This being the final chapter discusses the conclusions and recommendations drawn from this
study.