FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION REPORT

GIS AND GEODESIGN IN MANYATTA IN KISUMU, KENYA

OCTOBER 2019
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION REPORT: GIS AND GEODESIGN IN MANYATTA IN KISUMU, KENYA

Executive Summary

This report includes a summary of the key findings of the Focus Group Discussion

that was carried out with 13 key members from Manyatta Community in Kisumu County in

Kenya, on how to establish how geospatial information and effective partnership might better

lives in Manyatta area in Kisumu County. The discussion revealed a general agreement by

the participants to GIS and Geodesign, mainly due to concerns associated with livelihood

opportunities as well as better development in the community. As a by-product, the

discussion provided valuable insights to underlying hopes of the people in Manyatta about

improving the development, offering impetus to adjustment on the past design and plan of

Manyatta accordingly.

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FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION REPORT: GIS AND GEODESIGN IN MANYATTA IN KISUMU, KENYA

Introduction

The household and key informant interviews revealed many things concerning the

GIS and Geodesign of Manyatta Area. A lot of information was gathered from these

interviews that prompted for developing a focus group discussion. Thus, as stipulated in this

survey for Antioch University, USA decided to undertake one focus group discussion (FGD)

with critical people living in Manyatta Area on how to establish how geospatial information

and effective partnership might better lives in Manyatta area in Kisumu County in Kenya.

The university and team coordinated the FGD with support with other stakeholders in

Kisumu County Government, the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development, and

Vision 2030.u

Objective

Focus group discussion (FGD) was undertaken to consult critical stakeholders in the

community on (1) the feeling of how things operate in Manyatta and what could be done; (2)

the quality of life in the Manyatta settlement in terms of planning and designing of critical

amenities; (3) the settlement package foreseen for residents in Manyatta Area to build family

houses, toilets, schools, healthcare facilities, and water supply on the allocated area; and (4)

to identify the likely community-based support approaches in the effective planning Manyatta

Area.

The population comprised about 50% of children and 30% women inclusive of people

with specific needs such as separated children, people with disabilities, and orphans. The

elderly are also represented in the population and require the place to have adequate services

to them. It was depicted as significant to incorporate people of all these categories in the

discussion.

Methodology

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FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION REPORT: GIS AND GEODESIGN IN MANYATTA IN KISUMU, KENYA

Focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 13 people for the sake of

exploring their views. It was held at Joventure Hotel in Kondele Kisumu on 3rd October

2019. The FGD was held together for both males and females were adults (18-55 years old)

and elderly (55+) to get information on at least specific needs of each category.

Considering the gender issue among the informal settlement population selected participants

were made comfortable to express their thoughts freely without coercion. As a result, the

facilitator set out the rules and regulations for an engagement at the start of the discussion for

all participants to know about the set FGD requirements. Besides, stock taking was done to

the FGD to ensure that even people with special needs were incorporated in the discussion.

Key Findings

The main findings from the information generated by FGD are summarized below.

The discussion brought essential information about both current and past challenges as well

as concerns of the people living in Manyatta Area.

Most of the residents of Manyatta have lived in the place for more than 20 years, and

among the participants have served some residents in different roles such as church leaders,

chiefs, youth leaders, among other tasks.

The life in Manyatta settlement has been excellent, according to most of the responses

through several challenges were cited. The area is depicted to have improved in terms of

development, but some obstacles bring down the gains achieved over the years. Gender-based

violence is collective in the Manyatta area, and drug abuse among youths is a big problem in

the area. Besides, Manyatta residents are suffering from inadequate services due to poor

sanitation, a few health facilities, schools, and recreational facilities. Shockingly, a population

of 30,000 people have one public primary and no public secondary in the area. Manyatta A

and B have one health facility that makes the health of these people to be at risk. Due to

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FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION REPORT: GIS AND GEODESIGN IN MANYATTA IN KISUMU, KENYA

distanced public schools, most girls are susceptible to boda boda riders who misuse, and this

could be attributed to many early marriages in the area.

The future of Manyatta is quite positive as per the responses though many policies

must be implemented for such a blooming future to be achieved. The civil society, NGOs,

County Government, and International community should come up with strategies and

programs that would aid these people to better their lives. Future Manyatta would have

improved security with adequate street lights, proper planning of the area (perfect location of

schools, markets, health centres, and police stations and posts), and enough land for

development. Moreover, people themselves need to change their attitude when it comes to

development. For instance, landowners tend to exploit government by hyping prices of land

when land is required for a development project. It is advisable that they should be honest

and avoid restricting the government from implementing its programmes.

Participants of FGD felt that they could make a difference in how their future turns

out, and they were positive of the area. Indeed, they see Manyatta has the best place in

Kisumu because they possess critical assets in the area. It was agreed that structures should

be placed in the right to avoid commotion during the demolition of such structures by

different government authorities. The level of ignorance needs to be reduced by just adhering

to government rules and regulations.

All participants do not feel that they are getting the help they need to live the life they

would like to have because of poor governance and lack of political goodwill. Demolition of

illegal structures affects most of the residents, especially business people, have established

them. Traders incur heavy losses after being sent away from their land because they bought

pieces of land from land grabbers.

Furthermore, participants responded that they if they are given chance to make

change; they would do a number of things. Some of these things that they proposed

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comprised of the following: (1) education empowerment, sensitization, civic education and

consultative meeting; (2) health and sanitation; (3) social security; (4) agriculture and food

security; (5) effective leadership and political goodwill; and (6) industrialization and

unemployment. In fact, these six varieties were found from participants, then categorized and

ranked through the use of pairwise outranking matrix. The pairwise outranking matrix is as

shown below;

1 2 3 4 5 6 SCOR RANK

1 2 1 4 1 1 3 3

2 2 4 2 2 4 2

3 4 5 6 0 6

4 4 4 5 1

5 5 2 4

6 1 5

Table 1: Pairwise Outranking Matrix

After ranking it was established that most of the participants would focus on

agriculture and food security and it is ranked as the first one. The second place is occupied by

health and sanitation, and then followed by education empowerment, sensitization, civic

education and consultative meeting as third position. Fourth position is effective leadership

and political goodwill. Fifth and last positions are industrialization and unemployment and

social security respectively.

In general, all participants would be impressed and happy if their settlement was

mapped out and designed to their liking. There is great to improve planning of Manyatta area

to allow further development. Residents need change and geodesign would be great help to

them in case it will undergo full implementation

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FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION REPORT: GIS AND GEODESIGN IN MANYATTA IN KISUMU, KENYA

Conclusion

The knowledge level of the participants concerning Manyatta settlement could be

varied but so much across age, gender, and sex, as the attitude towards the change and

transformation of the area. For instance, elderly people were fully pleased about the

settlement of the area and noted some significant transformation in the area. It has been noted

that the insecurity is common in the area and expressed their preference to live in the current

set-up. Most participants seemed to be intrigued especially youths are excited about the

clarification regarding the proposed geodesign in Manyatta area. Finally, after getting

information about the area, most participants seemed to view the geodesign as an opportunity

though unknown it will offer detailed information that would be received by the residents.

The Focus Group Discussion confirmed the importance of building robust peaceful

co-existence policies and programs that are inclusive of the local community, and in which

industrialization, education empowerment, civic education, public sensitization, livelihoods,

social security, effective leadership and political goodwill, and environmental planning play

critical role in the development of Manyatta settlement. Broader sensitization and information

campaigns on the geodesign and the settlement itself is considered significant for

participants’ informed decision-making.

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