ANALYSIS OF FISH CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT: CASE OF KIBERA IN KENYA

Abstract

The increasing urban population has resulted in the emergence of informal settlements, which are characterised by poor sanitation, low income and food and nutrition insecurity. Kenya, among many developing nations, experience the challenge of hunger and malnutrition deficiency, especially among the urban poor. To mitigate the issue of food and nutrition insecurity, fish consumption has been reminiscent of addressing protein deficiency since the majority of the informal settlements are facing nutrition deficiency. This is due to inadequate income to support their well-being, which makes it difficult to afford a well-balanced diet. Thus, the objective of this study was to understand the contribution of fish in enhancing food and nutrition security among households in informal settlements. The study was conducted in the Kibera informal settlement. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select 385 households where food decision-makers were interviewed using a pretested structured questionnaire. Ordered probit was used to analyse both objectives one and two while a Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LA-AIDS) model was used in analysis objective three. The results indicated that the frequency of fish consumption was influenced by gender, years in school, income, migration, price, neighbourhood effect, time taken to reach the fish outlet, and the number of outlets within a 100-metre radius. More than half (57%) of consumers consumed fish 2-3 times a day. Income, price, culture, religion, neighbourhood effect, number of meals and information from neighbours influenced the number of species of fish consumed by consumers. The number of species consumed were silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea) (51%), Nile tilapia (Oreochromi) (34%), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) (12%) and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) (<1%). Finally, age, gender, household size and education level significantly influence the demand for fish. Nile tilapia was elastic and hence considered a luxury food category to consumers. Silver cyprinid was inelastic and therefore regarded as a necessary food, while Nile perch was an inelastic and inferior category food among fish consumers. There is a need to increase the fish consumption frequency, especially for the small species of silver cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea), which has been seen to be the most consumed among households in the informal settlement because of its affordability. The increasing demand for various species consumed needs to be enhanced since fish is important in improving nutrition security; hence, an increase in the availability of affordable fish in the informal settlement will improve both food and nutritional security, especially in the Kibera informal settlement.