Conclusion
A successful informal sector of sustainable ICT clusters requires that the ICT provided are the ones in demand by the entrepreneurs and that they should be located strategically, in order to generate optimal utilisation and avoid the loss of man-hours by the informal sector having to search for the services. There should also be a strategy aiming at investment in human capital, which will trigger active absorption of skills and technology. This calls for a collaboration or partnership between government and other development partners, especially those who can facilitate training in business development and management skills, as well as the use of ICT. A special focus of this ICT strategy should be to demystify and promote diffusion of ICT as a general-purpose technology to the informal sector.
It is believed that the use of new technologies can be crucial to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in a timely and effective fashion. In response to this noble call the study concludes that there is a need to prevent further marginalization of the informal sector by availing ICT services which are mixed appropriately and also properly located. This will help them access markets and other business information which can enable, or make their economic activities, more vibrant and facilitate availability of information about new opportunities. The study concludes that for one to understand the application of ICT and their locational dynamics in informal sector clusters there is a need to comprehend and acknowledge the drivers and pressures leading to the adoption of new technology such as ICT in the informal sector.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barton, C., 1999: Information and Communications Technologies: Are They the Key to Viable Business Development Services for Micro and Small Enterprises?, Marshall Bear Development Alternatives, Washington DC.
Buchanan, D. and Connor, M. 2001: Managing process risk: planning for booby traps ahead, Strategy and Leadership, 29(3), 23–38.
Cairncross, F., 1997: The Death of Distance-How the Communication Revolution Will Change Our Lives. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Clarke, N., 1994: Environmental Profile of Jakarta, Urban Management and Environment Discussion Paper series, Washington.
Carter, H., 1995: The Study of Urban Geography, Arnold, London.
Das, T.K. and Teng, D., 2001: Strategic risk behaviour and its temporalities: between risk propensity and decision context, Journal of Management Studies, 38(4), 515–533.
Gay, L.R., 1981: Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, Charles E. Mairill Publishing, Columbus.
Heeks, R. and Duncombe, R., 2001: Information Technology and Small Enterprises: A Handbook for Enterprise Support Agencies in Developing Countries, IDPM, University of Manchester, Manchester.
Kenya, Government of, 2002a: The Ninth National Development Plan for the Period 2002 to 2008, Government Printer, Nairobi.
Kenya, Government of, 2002b: Draft Physical Planning Handbook, Department of Physical Planning, Nairobi.
Kenya, Government of, 2003: Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth Creation and Employment, 2003–2007, Government Printer, Nairobi.
Kenya, Government of, 2005a: Kenya’s National ICT Policy, Government Printer, Nairobi.
Kenya, Government of, 2005b: Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2005 on Development of Micro and Small Enterprises for Wealth and Employment Creation for Poverty Reduction, Government Printer, Nairobi.
Kenya, Government of, 2006: 2006 Kenya ICT Strategy; Collaboration and Outsourcing for Economic Growth, Government Printer, Nairobi.
Maleche, Z., 2004: Regional Development in Africa: Concepts, Issues and Approaches, Ninth Africa Training Course on Local and Regional Development Planning, Nairobi.
McCormick, D., 1998: Enterprises Cluster in Africa: on the Way to Industrialization, IDS Discussion Paper No. 366, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.
McGee, T.G., 1977: Hawkers in South East Asia Cities: Planning for a Bazaar Economy, International Development Research Centre, Ottawa.
Meller, H., 1990: Social Evolutionist and City Planner, Routledge, London.
Mugenda, O.M. and Mugenda, A.G., 1999: Research Methods; Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Nairobi.
Ritchie, B. and Brindley, C.S., 2005: ICT adoption by SMEs: implications for relationships and management, New Technology, Work and Employment, 20(3), 205–217
Schutt, K. R., 1996: Investigating the Social World: The Process & Practice of Research, Pine Forge Press: Thousand Oaks.
Singleton, A., Royce, J., Straits, C.B. and Straits M.M., 1993: Approaches to Social Research, Oxford University Press, Cambridge.
Som, R.K., 1973: A Manual for Sampling Techniques, Heinmann, London.
UNCHS (HABITAT), 2001: Cities in a Globalising World, Earthscan, London.
World Bank, 2001: Business Development Services for Small Enterprises: Guiding Principles for Donor Intervention, Committee of Donor Agencies for Small Enterprise Development, World Bank Group, available at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/ent/papers/guide.htm.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Opiyo, R.O., K’Akumu, O.A. ICT application in the informal sector: The case of the Kariokor market MSE cluster in Nairobi. Urban Forum 17, 241–261 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-006-0011-x
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-006-0011-x