Socio-Economic and Environmental Outcomes of Street Food Vending and its Sustainability in Selected Urban Areas of Kenya

Abstract

Street food (SF) vending is a common livelihood activity in many urban areas globally. It is driven by a lack of employment opportunities in the formal sector and by the demand for cheap ready-to-eat food by urban residents. However, the trade is perceived to have adverse impacts on the urban environment and hence authorities seek to eliminate it from urban spaces. The purpose of this study was to assess the sustainability of SF vending in Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia urban areas in Western Kenya by examining its social, economic and environmental outcomes. The research design used was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. Proportionate sampling and simple random sampling were used to select respondents in each urban area. The sample consisted of two hundred and twenty-four respondents. Data was collected through questionnaires, observation checklists and photography. The findings show that SF vending met the food security needs of residents and also provided employment opportunities. However, the earnings were too low to meet the needs of vendors and their employees. Despite the low income, the trade also provided revenue for the county governments through the payment of various levies. Although personal hygiene was relatively good, workplaces were strewn with litter and waste disposal was poorly done. In order for SF vending to be sustainable in the long run, SF vendors need to be empowered through stakeholder engagement to increase their earnings to a level where it can meet their needs. They also need to adopt environmentally friendly waste disposal methods