The role of non-motorised mode of transportation: a case study of hand-carts operation in Kisumu Municipality, Kenya.

Abstract

This study was carried out in Kisumu Municipality(KM), Kenya and its main objective was to find out the role of hand-carts as an urban transport mode. In order to understand the role of hand-carts, objectives were set for the study and these were to find out the types of goods they transport, major areas of operation, the particular group of people they serve within the town, their relationship with the other modes of transport in town especially the matatu5 which are the prevalent modes of commuter transport within the KM and their role in both the employment and income generation activities. Some hypotheses were set up to help in the investigation of the above objectives. It was assumed that there are some land uses wh i ch were gene rat i ng and attract ing hand+c ar t s tr ips more than others within the KM, the modes mostly move food products more than other goods, their trips mostJ~ originate and end in bus stages and also that their operators are the urban residents below the average urban working age, that is, 15-64 years old. The methods used in the data organization and analysis included the descriptive and quantitative techniques. The descriptive techniques inc 1uded frequency distribution, and the percentages The only quantitative technique used in testing all the four hypotheses set for the study was the X2 (Ch i Square) Statistic. A theoretical model was also used to show the interdependency existing between the non-motorised modes and the motorised ones in achieving an efficient transport system. In order to collect the relevant data for the study, cluster and systematic sampling techniques were used. The …