Migrants, urban poverty and the changing nature of urban–rural linkages in Kenya

Figures & data

Table 1: Visits to the rural home or plot in the last quarter of 2001 (%)

Purpose of visit∗	See/visit rural-based family or relatives	71.1
	Attend to rural farming activities	55.9
	Attend to cultural ceremonies	29.5
	‘Holiday’ from town life	24.9
Number of visits	Less than 5 visits	54.7
	5–9 visits	16.0
	10 + visits	29.2
Frequency of visit	More often than monthly	17.5
	Monthly	21.2
	Every two to four months	37.8
	Once/twice a year	23.5
Source: 2001 survey (N = 349 plots).
∗Total > 100% due to combined answers.

Table 2: Urban-to-rural flow of money (%)

Remitting money to rural areas (N = 327 households)	Yes	73.1
	No	26.9
Frequency of sending money (N = 239 households)	More often than monthly	5.0
	Monthly	35.1
	Every two to four months	41.4
	Once or twice a year	18.4
Reasons for sending money (N = 239 households)∗	General upkeep	90.4
	Farming purposes	57.3
	Payment of school fees	23.8
Change in frequency of sending money (N = 239 households)	Decreased	54.8
	Increased	19.7
	No significant change	25.5
Source: 2001 survey.
∗Total > 100% due to combined answers.

Table 3: Importance of rural farming activities (%)

	Crop cultivation (N = 173)	Livestock keeping (N = 111)
Could not survive without it	74.6	39.6
Major income source	16.2	2.7
Additional income source	57.2	54.1
Major food source	23.7	0.9
Additional food source	66.5	67.6
Source: 2001 survey.
Total > 100% due to combined answers.

Table 4: Reasons for sending wife and children to live at home (%)∗

	Wife (N = 89)	Children (N = 73)
Not enough money in town	29.2	38.4
To concentrate on farming	73.0	–
Problem of housing	15.7	15.1
Education is cheaper at home	–	43.8
Source: 2001 survey.
∗Only for those whose wife or children had ever stayed at home. The reasons in each case reflect combined answers.