Joint liability lending strategy adopted by Self Help Groups (SHGs) has provided a panacea for financial exclusion previously associated with the rural poor. Access to SHG microcredit by the rural poor enables acquisition of assets for improved production as well as food and better livelihood. However, poverty levels in some regions in Kenya remain high despite the existence of several SHGs. There were about 796 registered self-help groups in Nyakach Sub-County by December 2015. In the study area, poverty level had moved from 18% to 43% in the period up to 2019, representing 238% rise. The situation contradicts evidence from other developed countries across the globe especially parts of Asia and Europe which show that self-help groups have positive influence on the overall development of society. The purpose of the study was to explore how structures of SHGs influence livelihoods of households in Nyakach Sub County, Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine how types of SHGs influence livelihood of households; assess the influence SHG size has on the livelihood of households and to determine how objective based SHGs influence households' livelihoods. The theory of Collective Action (CA) stipulating that mobilization of groups of vulnerable population to fight a common problem which has been overlooked by responsible public institutions guided the study. Descriptive design was employed on a target population of 9450 from which a sample size of 384 respondents was calculated via Yamane's formula. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data from the SHG members whereas Key Informant interviews were used to collect data from Divisional Social Services Officers (DSSOs) who were non SHG members. Findings showed that financial and social capitals were the livelihood aspects highly influenced by structures of SHGs and the size and objective-based SHGs had high influence on livelihood of households. The influence of SHG structure on livelihood was significant but small (n=384; r = .427; p < 0.05). It was concluded that the influence of structure was not homogeneous. The study recommended that structures of SHGs should be aligned to contextual conditions of the household members.
There is growing literature focusing on resource extraction and unbalanced sharing of natural resources in the exploitation community and conflict especially in the developing countries. Whereas a lot of attention has been directed at grievances of conflicting parties in natural resource based conflicts, limited attention is being given to peace initiatives including the role of local peace committees and community led peace building networks. This paper provided an insight on the role of peace initiatives in resource based conflicts in post-colonial Kenya, with particular attention to lower Nyando River Basin of Kisumu County, Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the magnitude of resource based conflicts among communities in the Lower Nyando River Basin, analyse the role of local peace committees in resource based conflicts among communities in the Lower Nyando River Basin and to establish the contribution of community led peace-building networks in resource based conflicts among communities in the Lower Nyando River Basin, Kenya. Conflict transformation theory which articulates transforming the causes of conflict as the right approach for resolving and curtailing emerging disputes was adopted to guide the study. Mixed method design involving quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis approaches was adopted. Target population comprised of (Ogenya=153; Kakola Ombaka=704; Jimo Middle=131, and West Kabodho=225) who were natural resource reliant in both Nyakach and Nyando Sub-counties with a sample size of 278 respondents obtained based on Gill et al’s Table of Desired Accuracy with Confidence Level of 95%. The study also interviewed 4 elected community leaders from each sub location. Findings showed that the magnitude of resource based conflicts in the area was high (M=3.91; SD=0.08). The study also found that local peace committees were important peacebuilding initiatives (M=4.17; SD=0.23), while peacebuilding networks existing in the study area had contributed in resolving conflicts to a large extent (M=4.01; SD=0.25). It was concluded that unfounded apportioning of the wetland by the feuding communities has made the magnitude of conflict to be high in the study area. The study also concludes that local peacebuilding initiatives have helped in managing resource based conflict in the area due to their acceptability and incessant peace messaging.
Poverty reduction and socio-economic challenges since 1990s attracted institutions named Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among communities. Literature abound linking SHGs with empowerment especially of women albeit with weak methodology and failure to measure changes in livelihood participation. Poverty level still increased in areas like Nyakach Sub-County where SHGs operate. Poverty level increased from 18% to 43% until 2019, representing 238% rise. The study purposed to establish how participation in SHGs changed constructs of household livelihoods in Nyakach Sub-County, Kenya. The study hypotheses tested; absence of significant difference in household food security before and after joining SHGs, absence of significant difference in household healthcare access before and after joining SHGs, and absence of significant difference in household social capabilities before and after joining SHGs. Using Symbolic Interactionism Theory a longitudinal survey design was applied on 9450 target population. A sample of 384 provided data at two points before joining SHGs and after joining. Mean values of the two periods were compared using z-statistics. Findings showed that through participation in SHGs, improvement in food security (M=3.60; SD=1.39) and improvement in social capabilities (M=3.53; SD=1.36) were highly changed. Improvement in healthcare access was slight (M=2.73 ; SD=1.04). A significant and positive improvement in livelihood constructs of the SHG members was observed thus rejection of the null hypotheses (H01 ; H02 and H03). Conclusively, participation in SHGs had significant potential of improving livelihood constructs of households. It is recommended that healthcare as a construct of livelihood should be institutionalised through SHGs for more community reach.
Common pool resource conflicts affecting communities' livelihoods are becoming very relevant in natural resource research as it is now accepted as one of the key factors leading to poverty and loss of livelihood, although specific effect on gender is lacking. This study examined the effect of conflict over common pool resources upon gender, of varying age groups, among the residents of lower river Nyando flood plains in Kenya. The study locates use of common pool resources like water, fish, papyrus resources, and land as source of conflict among the residents of this area. The objectives were to identify the frequency of conflict, the results of conflict, and the effect of conflict over common resources on gender among the residents of Lower River Nyando flood plains. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study, and purposive and stratified sampling technique used to select 138 respondents, who were interviewed using interview schedules. Cronbach's Alpha was used to test instrument's reliability, and a coefficient of 76% was attained. Gender was categorized as women, men, elders, youth, and disabled, and amongst these, women were the most affected owing that most farming, papyrus harvesting, and dairy products benefit women most in households in this region. Similarly, displacement of men from grazing fields, farming, and use of water resulted into loss of income, dairy resources, and nutrition. Women, being reliant on exploitation of papyrus, lost income from this CPR conflict due to destruction of harvested papyrus and exclusion from the right to cultivate crops on disputed land. It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between gender and resource exploitation, hence conflicts relating to CPRs have gender specific effects.
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