Figure 2-6 – The three dimensions of inclusion

Both Bungoma County and the Municipality’s populations have grown at similar rates to the national average growth rate over the period 2009 to 2019 (2.2-2.5%). Extrapolating this growth rate, it is predicted that the population of the County will exceed 2 million by 2029. However, it is important to note that with interventions such as SUED and the revival of its key processing industries there is potential for this growth to occur at a faster rate.

Migration, in its different forms, plays an important role in the population of Bungoma County and the western region. The Municipality has a significant visiting population, particularly during the day when people living in other areas come to work in the town6. Seasonal migration also occurs in Bungoma with the opening and closing of educational institutions. Students from tertiary institutions like Kibabii and Masinde Muliro often come from neighbouring counties and contribute to these seasonal migration flows7. Kenya in general and Bungoma Municipality in particular, continue to attract migrants seeking political asylum and economic opportunity. Many migrants may enter into Kenya through Bungoma or Busia and move on to Eldoret8. However, cross-border migration is small by comparison with domestic migration flows in Bungoma. Most of the individuals who settle in Bungoma come from Kakamega and Trans Nzoia counties, and are motivated by marriage, security concerns, land availability, or employment opportunities9. The high and persistent migration patterns that Bungoma is experiencing alongside population growth is putting growing pressure on jobs and urban infrastructure10 . Social inclusion

The development agenda for Bungoma County, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aims at “eradicating poverty, ending hunger, reducing inequality, and ensuring gender equality”11. Among the CIDP strategic goals, the County has the objective to promote and enhance human capital development through education and training, promoting economic development, and providing high-quality livelihoods and a sense of wellbeing to local communities. The CIDP has also identified groups that deserve particular attention, such as children, PWD, youth, minorities and marginalised groups, and senior citizens, and defined specific objectives to support their development.

Despite the County’s plans and successful implementation of social inclusion initiatives and programmes, KIIs and FGDs conducted at the Municipality level established that PWD, women, and youth still feel excluded. The approach to the social inclusion study was guided by the client’s need for age, gender, Persons with Disability (PWD) and refugees’ inclusion in the programme, and the World Bank’s multi-dimensional approach to inclusion that considers social, economic, and spatial dimensions as illustrated in Figure 2-6.

Figure 2-6 – The three dimensions of inclusion

Source: Atkins, 2022

6 Bungoma Municipality, draft IDeP, (2020). 7 Bungoma Municipality, LUDP, (2016). 8 Bungoma KOM meeting and follow up discussions, 29/09/2021 9 Bungoma County, CSP, (2018). 10 Bungoma Municipality, draft IDeP, (2020). 11 Bungoma County, CIDP, (2018).