L.Victoria Rept - UN-Habitat

2. KISUMUA: BASIC CITY INFORMATIONCity/ CountryKisumu, KenyaCity and country population 345,312 in 1999 Census. Current estimate is 500,000.Country population: 28.7 million (1999 census)Population density:City/Municipal growth rateCity/Municipal’s main function828 per square kilometerEstimated at 2.8% per annumPrincipally, a leading commercial/trading, fishing, industrial, communication and administrativecenter in the Lake Victoria basin.The Council’s main functions: - Mobilize internal and external resources and, within existing regulatory framework, to directthe resources towards answering basic social needs of the populace in the Municipality;- Provide social services especially water supply and sewerage services.- Infrastructure development (roads, parking spaces, houses).- Environmental sanitation, garbage collection and disposal.- Housing, Health, Education, Welfare – Markets, and Sports.- Nurturing an enabling environment for the enhanced participation of the citizens in urbandevelopment.Population below poverty lineUnemployment rateAdult Literacy RateSettlements and demographic trends48% against the national average of 29%. Highest incidence of food poverty, with 53.4% of itspopulation below the food poverty line in comparison to Nairobi (8.4%), Mombasa (38.6%) andNakuru (30%). 8Unemployment is 30%. 52% of population engaged in informal sector99% (75% male and 25% female). 24.6% of the urban poor have attained secondary schooleducationAbout 25% of the population occupies the old town section. 9 The peri-urban area is denselypopulated and accommodates the rapidly expanding informal settlements of Kisumu. The remaining25% of the municipal population occupy the rural section that comprises about 80% of the totalcity area. 108The prevalence of hardcore poverty in Kenya dropped from 10% in 1994 to 7.5% in 1997. Kisumu Municipalityrecorded close to 17%.9This comprises the Central Business District, Milimani, Kibuye Stadium, Railway; while, about 50% arefound in the peri-urban areas of Kanyakwar, Manyatta, Nyalenda, Pandpieri, and Bandani.10This includes the whole of Kolwa Location, parts of Kogony, Korando, and Kanyakwar up to Nyahera, SouthWest Kisumu and Kajulu.42Cities Development Strategies for Improved Urban Environment and Poverty Reduction in the Lake Victoria Region