The Nexus Between Smart Energy Street Lighting and Informal Small Traders’ Location and Operation in Migori Town, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.616Keywords:
Smart Energy Street Lighting; Informal small traders; Traders’ location and operation; Migori townAbstract
Smart energy street lighting influences spatial location of informal business enterprises in urban areas. This is mostly attributed to the positive contribution that lighting has on the small traders’ sales and security when night falls, yet they must remain on the streets to keep selling to clients who pass by from work and those who prefer shopping in the night when the hustle and bustle of urban streets has cooled off due to people retiring to their homes. The Objective of the study was to determine the influence of smart energy street lighting grid systems on the spatial location and operation of informal sector trading activities in Migori town. The research was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model, Spatial Interaction and Spatial Network theories. The research adopted convergent parallel research design. Out of a population of approximately 5,000 full-time informal sector traders operating in Migori town, 1,010 involved themselves in the selected categories of commodities, which included beauty, salon and barber shops, cloth and footwear, building and construction materials, metal and carpentry, vehicle parts and mechanics, small food kiosks, local transport services, household goods and foodstuff retailers. Guided by Yamane (1967) formula, a sample size of 287 informal sector traders was used for the study. Area and random sampling methods were used to reach target respondents amongst the total number of traders. Purposive sampling was used to identify the key informants, who were, the Market Manager, Town Physical Planner and Informal Sector traders’ representatives. Voluntary sampling was used to reach buyers. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Secondary data was collected through reviewing County Integrated Development plans, policy and planning reports. Qualitative data was analyzed by creating relevant themes and patterns. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics so as to determine the association between adoption of smart ueban street lighting and urban spatial development. This study revealed that smart energy Street Lighting technology is playing an important role in the distribution and location of the informal business activities in the urban set-up. However, its potential has not been fully leveraged to create the basis for its integration into the urban spatial development of Migori town. This study recommends that the County government of Migori fully creates an enabling environment that is supportive its integration into urban spatial planning and development.
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