Enumerated employment and the regional distribution of income in Kenya

Abstract

Using data from the Kenya Annual Survey of Employment and Earnings for 1971, it is noted that the proportion of adult males employed in enumerated establishments varies considerably between rural and urban areas and among the Provinces. About one half of all enumerated employees were located in the five largest towns, and the concentration of earnings was even greater.

According to the 1969 Census, about one half of Nairobi's enumerated employees were from Nyanza, Western and Eastern Provinces, but this proportion has been declining and the number of employees from Central Province increasing. The author proposes that a question about the District or Province of origin be included in the Annual Survey of Employment and Earnings so that any regional or ethnic disparities in income can be identified.