The Contribution Of Self Help Groups To Household Food Security In Kakamega Central District, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Food security is the first of the eight Millennium Development Goals, which seeks to

eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015. Despite Kakamega Central

District having so many SHGs, studies have shown that food insecurity was on the rise.

The study examined the contribution of SHGs to household food security by comparing

the food security status between members and non members of SHGs. A survey was

carried out to establish the factors that enhance the effectiveness of Self Help Groups,

constraints faced by SHGs as well a~ opportunities available for SHGs in their efforts to

enhance food security. The study was conducted amongst 150 Self Help Groups operating

within Kakamega Central District. Purposive sampling was used in selecting Kakamega

Central District and key informants while multistage and random sampling were used in

selecting households of self help group members and non-members. The correlation and

cross-sectional survey research designs were employed. Data on food among Self Help

Group members and non members was collected using pre-tested semi-structured

questionnaires. Focus Group Discussions were also used and involved members of the self

help groups in order to understand the problems and opportunities faced by SHGs.

Interview guides were used to collect data from key informants from the Social Services

Department ofKakamega Central District. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was

used in the analysis of data with Analysis of Variance being used to test association of self

help group membership and household food security. A Household Dietary Diversity

Score, which is a proxy measure for food access was calculated for each household. The

findings revealed that the factors that influence the effectiveness of SHGs were

commitment and unity among members, transparency and good leadership, availability of

funds and sound planning and managerial skills. The study established that members of

Self Help Groups were more food secure as compared to non members. The study

established that the constraints facing Self Help Groups were inadequate funds, lack of

adequate knowledge and necessary skills to run Self Help Groups, lack of group cohesion

as a setback to members' progress, lack of transparency and poor leadership. Opportunities

for SHGs included availability of loans and grants from micro-finance institutions and

Department of Gender and Social Development respectively, which were not fully utilized.

The study recommends that there is need for the Department of Gender and Social

Development to organise trainings to equip Self Help Groups members with adequate

skills and knowledge necessary for running Self Help Groups. There is also need for the

non members to be sensitized on the contributions of SHGs, so that they enroll and

participate in SHGs activities to boost food security in Kakamega County. Factors that

encourage Self Help Groups effectiveness like commitment and unity among members,

transparency and good leadership, availability of funds, sound planning and managerial

skills should be enhanced through capacity building of the members.