Explain five factors which led to the migration of African to the urban areas in Kenya during the colonial period.
Answer:
- The unproductive reserves created by the colonial government made living conditions unbearable for the Africans.
- Availability of better social services/amenities/health centres/education provided in towns attracted them.
- The taxes imposed on Africans forced them to migrate to towns in search of jobs
- Availability of infrastructure /piped Water/Paved roads/ attracted many people to towns as they hoped for a better life.
- Employment/job opportunities attracted people to towns as it promised the better wages.
- Mistreatment/frustrations by the labour/public works forced them to move to towns.
- The widespread poverty in rural/reserves caused untold suffering among Africans making them to migrate to towns. Loss of land/ landlessness caused by the colonial land policies resulted into a state of despair thereby forcing people to move to towns.
- African entrepreneurs wanted to take advantage of the wider market in towns to sell their wares.