Factors Leading To Increased Poverty Levels In Kajiado District Kenya: Case Study Of Ilbisil Division

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to examine the causes of increased poverty levels in Kajiado

district in Kenya. The study was carried out upon the background that about 60% of the

households of Kajiado district are living below the poverty line and this was according to the

analysis of the NGOs operating in Kajiado district. The findings of the study revealed that;

the households of Kajiado district are in poverty because they are ignorant of change due to

their cultural rigidity, unfavorable climatic conditions, lack of education among most these

households which limits their employment capacity and also due to the presence of

illV/AIDS epidemic which creates a dependency syndrome among these households

The research design of the study was based on sample survey and cross sectional study

design where primary and secondary data described and analyzed to give the magnitude of

the study. Data was collected using primary data designs where qualitative data was sought

using interviews, observation and focus group discussion methods and quantitative data

sought through questionnaires. Secondary data was gathered through documentary review

from different libraries. A sample size of eighty respondents was used where by ten NGOs

representatives and ten government representatives from the ministry of special planning and

disaster preparedness were involved and also ten household representatives per every location

participated in the study.

Community should be sensitized and empowered to abandon negative practices in their

culture such as polygamous marriage, discrimination against women and cultural rigidity,

which has dragged them back in issues to do with development.

The community should also be informed about the importance of trimming their large herds

of indigenous breed of cattle and replace them with manageable number of cattle given the

conditions of the area. This community should also be helped to engage in other means of

income generating activities that can withstand the dry conditions of the area such as drought

resistant crops and any other economic activities apart from solely depending on livestock keeping.