Migration Schedules and Transition in Rusinga Island, Kenya: Application of Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) Dataset

Macro-data generated from censuses and surveys have often been used for migration analysis in Kenya; however, for the first time, this study uses Demographic Surveillance Systems (DSS) data collected from Rusinga Island (i.e. a DSS site of the Population Studies and Research Institute of the University of Nairobi). The objective being to establish: the prevailing migration schedules; prevailing migrant characteristics and migration patterns; reasons for migration, and; who makes decisions for migration to occur on Rusinga Island. The study established that even with the use of DSS data, migration schedule in Rusinga Island was two-humped and similar to those often generated using Kenya censuses and survey data; the major reasons for migration were for purposes of education, marriage and settlement, and; the family being the major decision-maker of migration. Recommendation being that the use of DSS data be enhanced as it positively impacts on the timeliness and undertaking of area specific migration analyses. In addition, undertake more development ventures in Rusinga Island the area was noted to be in post-tradition development stage.