Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 December 2011
The 1970–4 Kenya Development Plan designated four levels of centres to stimulate rural development: urban centres as the main commercial centres for an entire district, mostly district headquarters though some like Kajiado, Narok and Kitui have not been so designated; rural centres to serve a population of at least 40,000; market centres to serve populations of about 15,000; and local centres to cater for populations of at least 5,000. Thirty six urban centres, 140 rural centres, 231 market and 600 local centres were identified (see Kabwegyere n.d.: esp. ch. 6).