| Sumario: | A study was conducted to examine the tensions created in African cities by the formal and informal use of urban space. Data were obtained from a review of the literature on the formal and informal economies of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Findings revealed that the point of separation between the formal and informal economies is difficult to locate in Nairobi, and the distinction is usually made by the government: the formal economy is more highly regulated than the informal, and the informal is subjected to harsh treatment, including the failure to provide basic services. Findings indicate, nevertheless, that the informal sector is important for the Kenyan economy as a whole and that government policy should therefore be structured toward encouraging this sector and enhancing its ability to contribute positively to the alleviation of poverty in Kenya. Findings are discussed in detail.
|
|---|