Household livelihood strategies among the Keiyo in Kenya

Abstract

The paper demonstrates that people in all three ecological zones of Keiyo try to diversify their economic opportunities. Moreover, the paper suggests that Keiyo diversify both in order to reduce risk and uncertainty and in hopes of succeeding financially and getting ahead. On the other hand, it has shown that the interaction of ecological factors has limited the economic opportunities that are available to most people in the valley, and to a lesser degree, on the escarpment. The highlands ecological zone provides the greatest opportunities for achieving economic security and success. Usually through a combination of on-farm and off-farm activities, households are able to live more comfortably there than in the other two areas. Ironically, however, it is also in the highlands that diversification of activities becomes least essential for economic survival and prosperity. Because of the much more favourable opportunity structure there, households in the highlands do not feel as compelled to diversify their economic activities as do people who lived in the valley or on the escarpment. Nonetheless, this paper demonstrates that diversification is still the most common strategy pursued in all three ecological areas.