Access and use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Rural Poverty Reduction in Uasin Gishu District

Abstract

Poverty is a human phenomenon associated with an unacceptable low standard of living. It arises from many dimensions. One of these dimensions is lack of relevant and appropriate information to carry out day-to-day activities. Reduction of poverty therefore entails raising these standards of living by providing the information. The advent of ICTs has changed the way people work, entertain and interact with each other. Yet, the reality is that such changes have bypassed the majority of human kind, the billions of poor people for whom ICTs do not mean much. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of ICTs in the provision of information for rural poverty reduction in the rural areas of Uasin Gishu District, with a view of proposing a framework/model of improving their access and use. The specific objectives were to: assess the information needs of the rural communities in Uasin Gishu District and how these needs are met; explore the extent to which ICTs are accessed and used in the provision of information for rural poverty reduction; establish the perception of the rural communities towards ICTs; explore the potential role of ICTs in meeting the information needs of rural communities; establish the challenges experienced by the rural communities in using ICTs; and to propose a framework of improving access and utilization of ICTs by rural communities in Uasin Gishu. The study was informed by Harris‟ info-mobilization theory. The study is a qualitative one, consisting of a sample size of 100 participants, drawn from all the six divisions of Uasin Gishu District. Purposive sampling was used to select participants from the key sectors of the economy namely: agriculture, business and health. Data was collected using semi-structured interview schedules. It was analyzed using Strauss‟s grounded theory. The findings of the study were that: rural communities of Uasin Gishu District need information to carry out day-to-day activities; they consult various sources to satisfy their information needs; they use ICT tools such as mobile phones to access information in smaller extents; the rural community perceive ICTs as major actors in their development efforts; ICTs have a potential role to play in meeting the information needs of rural communities in Uasin Gishu District; and the rural community faces challenges in accessing and using ICTs, among others. The study provides the following recommendations: creation of the right environment for ICTs; improvement of the flow and quality of information; skills development; development of market intelligence systems; zero taxing ICT equipment and accessories; facilitation of community workers; implementation of alternative power supply systems; validation of indigenous knowledge; programming in local languages; and establishing an integrated ICT centre, among others. A framework of reducing poverty using ICTs is proposed.