Urbanization
Kenya Coast Portal
Section:
Reviews
Category:
Population
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Number of pages:
17
Year of publication:
2000
Print title:
Obudho R.A. (2000). Urbanization. In Hoorweg J., Foeken D. & Obudho R. eds. Kenya Coast Handbook: Culture, resources and development in the East African littoral. (pp.85-97). Hamburg: LIT Verlag.
For reference purposes, cite the following link:
https://www.ascleiden.nl/kenya-coast/reviews/obudho/urbanization
Summary/abstract:
Because of the presence of Mombasa, Coast Province is the second urbanized region of Kenya, after Nairobi. Urbanization in this part of the country goes back more than 1,000 years and was reflected in the numerous trading centres along the coast line. After their arrival, the British colonizers partly continued and partly redirected the urbanization process by making some of the existing towns into administrative centres. Restrictive policies regarding the movement of the African population, however, prevented a fast growth of the towns. This changed dramatically after independence, leading to the present situation which is mainly characterized by the primacy of Mombasa. At the other extreme, each district has a number of small centres, mainly with local administrative and commercial functions.