Informal Labour in the Construction Industry in Kenya: A Case Study of Nairobi

By Winnie V. Mitullah, Isabella Wachira on January 01, 2003

It is now widely recognized that construction activity plays a vital role in the process of economic growth and development, both through its products (infrastructure, buildings) and through the employment created in the process of construction itself. The development of an efficient construction industry is an objective of policy in most countries. However, the focus of research and technical assistance to date has largely been upon the enterprises that comprise the sector - the contractors, subcontractors and consultants. Little attention has been paid to the labour force, about which often very little is known. This paper makes a start in redressing this imbalance. It presents the findings of a study of construction labour in Nairobi, Kenya. This is one of four studies of construction labour in various towns and cities in the developing world that were commissioned by the ILO in the year 2000. The focus of all of the studies is 'informal labour' in the construction sector.

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