Resource mobilization strategies and sustainable livelihoods among the pastoral communities in Turkana, Kenya

Abstract

Resources both natural and human play an instrumental role towards a society’s socio-economic growth as demonstrated by numerous studies. Statistics indicate that over 80% of the countries worldwide have or still rely on their locally available resources for both primary and secondary growth. This scenario is not likely to change if appropriate strategies are not devised in transforming available resources towards sustainable livelihoods especially in environmentally fragile and vulnerable ecosystems. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of resource mobilization strategies on pastoral communities’ livelihoods in Kenya. The specific objectives were to: examine the types of resources endowment in the study area; assess strategies applied in resource mobilization; evaluate the effects of the strategies towards sustainable livelihoods of the people and examine challenges manifested in the application of these strategies. The study was based on social development theory by Jacobs and Harlon Cleveland that views social development as a process where human energies are organized in higher levels in order to achieve greater results. The study was anchored on pragmatic philosophical underpinning and applied mixed methods research design. The target population was 134,674 persons, inhabitants of Turkana Central Sub-County, using stratified and simple random sampling techniques; a sample size of 277 was selected. Instruments of data collection were questionnaires, focused group discussions and interview schedules. Qualitative data was collected, analysed and presented thematically in line with research objectives. In quantitative analysis, both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Descriptive analysis employed frequencies and percentages as generated with the aid of SPSS program. Inferential statistics on the other hand utilized chi-square. When the chi-square test for independence, from the value at χ 2 = 1014.326, p = 0.000 was undertaken, it was established that there was a significant relationship between resource mobilization strategies and people’s livelihoods, thus the null hypothesis was rejected since p < 0.05. Equally, the magnitude and direction of the relationship was also determined showing a weak but positive (r = 0.382) correlation hence confirming the existence of the relationship. The resultant chi-square test therefore indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between resource mobilization strategies and the pastoralists’ livelihoods. Despite myriad of challenges that exist in the region, the study found out that livestock, land and Lake Turkana are the key resources found in the study area. Further, value, addition, infrastructural development and creation of market linkages were the main resource mobilization strategies used. The study showed accessibility to social amenities and improved infrastructure as the effects of resource mobilization strategies while climate change, governance, illiteracy and poverty were challenges to resource mobilization. The study showed that the Turkana County government has developed resource maps and protected resource sites. In conclusion, the resource mobilization strategies adopted has enhanced sustainable livelihoods in the area of study. Finally the study recommends pastoral communities to appreciate diversity of livelihoods by applying appropriate strategies on existing resources, advocate for the concept of participation and inclusion methods in developing resource mobilization strategies, the state to improve the infrastructure of the area and also consider gender mainstreaming practice to avert impediments advocated by culture and traditions in the area of study and creation of Community based empowerment programmes. Lastly, pastoral communities should appreciate all the efforts made in realizing appropriate strategies for their sustainable livelihoods by their contributions during public participation.