TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION .•............................................................................................................ i
APPROVAL·····-······················-······················:······························································ ii
DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...............•....•........................................................................ iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ v
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... viii
LIST OF ABBREVlA TlONS ........................................................................................ ix
ABSTRACT •.................................................................................................................... X
CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1
1.2 The Concept Of Poverty ..................................................................................... 2
1.3 The problem statement ....................................................................................... 8
1.4 The Research Hypothesis ................................................................................... 8
1.5 Assumptions and Objectives of the Study .......................................................... 8
1.6 Significance of the study .................................................................................... 9
1. 7 Scope and Limitations ...................................................................................... l 0
1.9 Organization of the study ................................................................................. 11
1.10 Government Ministries ................................................................................... 12
1.12 NGOs ........................................................................................................... 12
1.13 Cooperatives or Groupings ............................................................................... 13
CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................... 14
LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................. 14
2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 14
2.2 Peoples Perception of Poverty in Kenya ........................................................... 16
2.3 Causes of poverty in Kenya .............................................................................. 17
2.4 How Does Someone Become Poor? ................................................................. 20
2.5 The Extent And Magnitude Of"Poverty" ......................................................... 21
V
'2.6- l!'he-Hnpact Of Poverty On National Development ........................................... 22
2.7 Current Structure Of Poverty Management Programs And Program Policies .... 24
2.8 Theoretical Framework....................................................................... . .......... 32
~HAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................... 34
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ·······························-·······················34
3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 34
3.3 Data collection methods ................................................................................... 34
3.4 Sampling ......................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................... 38
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ....................................................................... 38
4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 38
4.2 Respondents Personal Details ........................................................................... 38
4.2.2 Age and marital status ...................................................................................... 39
4.3 Level of education ........................................................................................... 40
4.4 Main occupation .............................................................................................. 40
4.5 Length of stay in the area ................................................................................. 41
4.6 Land Tenure and Related Issues ....................................................................... 41
4.6.1 Amount of Land Owned In the Area ............................................................... 41
4.7 Prices of Land and Sale of Land ....................................................................... 43
4.8 Livestock and Crop Production Activities ........................................................ 44
4.9 Poverty related issues ....................................................................................... 45
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................... 48
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................... 48
5.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 48
5.2 Summary ......................................................................................................... 48
5.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 48
5.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 49
ABSTRACT Poverty poses many dangers to political stability, social articulation and the environmental health of our planet. It is against this background that governments and non-government organizations have geared their national development programmes against poverty through the years. The study therefore aimed to investigate the methods of improving the social economic situation through improvement on the current methods of poverty management. The study theorised that, the success of poverty alleviation programmes mcrenses with community involvement from identification, preparation and implementation. /11 carrying out the study, the researcher employed a survey research method which imolved an administration of a face to face interview schedule to the respondents. This method was chosen because most residents of the area would not be accessible by phone. The mail option was not appropriate because it could take long and it was cumbersome 10 numy illiterate respondents. The interview schedule was conducted in English, Kiswahili and Maasai languages depending on the literacy level of the respondent. The 111te1view schedule demanded that the researcher and an enumerator spend time with the respondents asking questions and filling in as required. The findings of the study revealed that poverty alleviation programmes need to ill\,,lve the entire stakeholder. The community members know the priority problems affectins ,hem, to identify a pressing problem. Both genders should be involved in the identification and implementation process. Therefore the study recommends that development agencies need to improve on the communities' ideas to be effected and effective. At the same time, they X should try to use local resources that are in plenty, especially labour. This will lead to increase 111 incomes and reduce the vicious cycle of poverty. Other ,mqor recommendations of the study included; Initiation and implementation of projects lo be done 70% by the beneficiaries, Government to toughen rules on corruption, anybody who misappropriates funds meant for poverty alleviation projects to face heavy penalties and Creation of community awareness through capacity building and capacity building and empowerment of the beneficiaries.