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Naivasha Virtual Fieldcourse

Settlements

Unplanned settlements have grown up around Lake Naivasha, each housing tens of thousands of people, who have come to work, or seek work, in the horticultural industry.

The largest centres of aggregation are: Karagita, Kwa Muhia, Kamere and Kasarani. Collectively their population could amount to 50,000 inhabitants, all living in close proximity to the lake. Official records are incomplete and not reliable as these communities are mostly composed of young people who immigrate looking for jobs and that are ready to move elsewhere as opportunities arise. As a consequence, the structure of the built-up area comprises mostly compounds with large numbers of small rooms rather than family estates and homes. All residents tend to settle in close proximity to the Moi South Lake Road and very few build homes further out in the countryside due to the lack of water supplies and the presence of semi-arid soils.

Distribution of th Kenya population according to 1999 demographic census data. It can be seen that Naivasha is situated at the edge of one of the most intensively populated regions. (Source: The World Resources Institute, www.wri.org)