182 ANNE M. KARANJA, MOSES M. IKIARA, THEO C. DAVIES
Jua Kali Association (KJKA) came into being. Its objectives ranged from improving
artisan welfare with regard to the working conditions, to providing infrastructure,
technology, and training in marketing and finance. The total population of metal
workers was estimated at more than 2,000, settled on 1.5 hectares of land (Frijns et al.,
1997).
Although government conferred a degree of legitimacy on the entire informal
small-scale enterprise sector, its development remained on the fringes of Kenya’s
development agenda. Most of the policies emanating from this recognition were never
implemented. Government failed therefore to offer practical support to the sector’s
development (Government of Kenya (GoK), 1986, 1988, 1992, 1996; Helmsing 1993;
King 1996; Frijns et al., 1997).
Organisational aspects at Kamukunji
Kamukunji^18 is strategically located within easy access to raw materials from the
nearby large factories in Industrial Area and scrap metal yards in the surrounding
areas. There is also a ready market for finished goods from the neighbouring popula-
tion and travellers at the nearby Country Bus Station. Goods destined for sale outside
Nairobi or elsewhere are easily transported to the relevant destinations through this
bus park.
The enterprises were established recently, and are small with an average of 2 workers
inclusive of the proprietor^19. The typical owner of the small-scale metal recycling
enterprises is a man, ages between 20-60 years and averaging 40 years in age.
Employees are mainly hired to assist in the production and finishing of goods and put
in long hours, depending on the workload.
Start up capital/credit
Only small amounts of money were used to start the businesses and are normally
raised from own savings, relatives and friends as well as rotating savings groups. The
modal amount is Ksh. 10,000 (US$ 132) and the mean Ksh. 7,000 (US$ 92). Because
of the strong kinship and ethnic based arrangements of production in Kamukunji, an
artisan can enter recycling with as little as Ksh. 3,000 (US$ 40). However, finance
remains one of the most serious barriers to entry and to enterprise growth.
- This information obtained through interview with the then Kamukunji Jua Kali Association secretary
in 1998 and updated in 2000 during the EU SWM project stakeholder workshop. - A total of 33 enterprises and their workers were purposively selected and interviewed in order to under-
stand the production processes of the enterprises. - In their classification of Small Sized Enterprises (SSEs) in Kenya according to size, Parker and Torres
1994, show that about 80 percent are in the 1-2 non-growing category while the 11-50 is absent or
‘missing’.