K'Akumu, O.A. and Jones, Brian and Yang, Junli
(2013)
Factor Analysis Of The Market Environment For Artisanal Dimension
Stone In Nairobi, Kenya.
Journal of Construction in Developing Countries , 18 (2).
pp. 15-32.
ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
Artisanal dimension stone (i.e., blocks cut and shaped from natural rock using hand
tools) has attracted scholarly attention as part of the informal sector of the construction
industry and as part of the productive enterprise of artisans. One of the areas that intrigue
scholars in this respect is the market environment of the subject product. In Nairobi, for
instance, researchers have adopted a qualitative approach to the study of the market
environment of artisanal dimension stone. We build on the outcomes of previous studies to
present a quantitative approach to the factors influencing the market environment of
artisanal dimension stone in Kenya by developing the factors identified in the past studies
into 24 measurable variables that are then subjected to factor analysis to identify and gauge
the principal components. The analysis identifies five principal components that influence the
market environment: a difficult marketing terrain, a general lack of specification by building
professionals and formal developers, occasional specification by building professionals, a
cumbersome stone procurement system, and advantages provided by the use of artisanal
dimension stone in building. These include both negative and positive factors, although the
negative forces tend to dominate, resulting in an inhibitive rather than a facilitative
environment. Recommendations are made to address this situation, including
recommendations for an association with a mining advocacy organisation such as
Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) or similar institution and the formation of a
marketing cooperative by the producing units to help in the formalisation of their
transactions.
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