| dc.description.abstract | The rapid urban growth experienced by Kenya alongside developing countries has
caused informal settlements to spread toward metropolitan areas' edges. These
settlements exist without proper infrastructure and basic services which create
major economic as well as social problems. The authors conduct an investigation of
Kwa Bulo's Mombasa County informal settlement evolution and analyze its factors
including urbanization and employment patterns alongside social beliefs and state
initiatives. A mixed methodology was employed to study 280 participants whose
sample number was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. The research relied
on questionnaire alongside interviews and participant observation to obtain both
quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data analysis took place through
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and thematic analysis handled the
qualitative data assessment. The research findings indicate that 52% of the
development of slums is attributable to urbanization based on land price
appreciation, industrialization, and migration. Unemployment is contributing to
73% growth in settlement with a high correlation (R = 0.81) between job insecurity
and dependency on slums. The study also found that informal economic activities,
such as street vending, serve as key coping mechanisms for residents facing
employment challenges. Public perception emerged as a significant factor
influencing informal settlement development. Negative stereotypes and social
stigma (M = 4.85) have reinforced marginalization, limiting Government action and
resource allocation. Government intervention was found to have a limited impact
due to poor policy implementation, financial barriers, and inadequate access to
social housing. While respondents acknowledged efforts to improve tenure
security (72% agreed), the actual impact remains low due to weak enforcement.
Additionally, financial constraints and high lending rates have hindered residents
from upgrading their housing or transitioning to formal settlements. The study
concludes that informal settlement growth in Kwa Bulo is driven by a complex
interaction of economic, social, and policy factors. It recommends urban planning
reforms, job creation programs, improved public awareness, secure land tenure,
and enhanced financial accessibility as key strategies for sustainable informal
settlement management. These findings add to the current research by highlighting
the importance of public perception and government policy gaps in driving
informal settlement patterns in Mombasa County. | en_US |
