Nine Days in Garissa: Profile of the Town and Identification of Areas for Further Research

Abstract

In a discussion of small towns in Kenya, where grassroots development is often attempted, effort must be made to identify both minute and major differences among towns and not perceive a small size and population as an overriding commonality. As one of the few urban centres in the semi-arid and pastoral Northeast Province of Kenya, Garissa. certainly can be differentiated from other small towns of Kenya such as Machacos, Kilifi or Maralal. It has its own economic activity, history and socio-cultural dynamic, as well as its own crises and problems. The problem addressed in this research, then, is an issue of identity, information about which can be used by organizations or government in the process of eradicating poverty and increasing the choices of the town's population.