Livelihoods, vulnerability and the risk of malaria on Rusinga Island/Kenya Magisterarbeit zur Erlangung der Würde des Magister Artium der Philologischen, Philosophischen und Wirtschafts- und Verhaltenswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg i. Br. Vorgelegt von Philipp Weckenbrock aus Bad Oldesloe WS 2004/05 Geographie Acknowledgements The realisation of this study would not have been possible without the help of many people. I would like to thank Prof. Dr. A. Drescher, HD Dr. C. Dittrich, Prof. Dr. R. Mäckel, Dr. G. Killeen and M. Quinlivan for their support during the preparatory phase of my fieldwork, which was partly sponsored by the Verband der Freunde der Universität Freiburg im Breisgau e.V. In Kenya, Dr. U. Fillinger offered a lot of help, not only concerning the design of the fieldwork but also in many other matters, for which I am very grateful. Also many thanks to the other people at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), in particular Dr. R. Mukabana. In Nairobi and on Rusinga Island, I received much assistance from the side of the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), especially from I. Kiche and E. Wamai. It was always a pleasure to work together with the malaria team in general and the malaria volunteers on Rusinga in particular. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to the many people in Kaknaga/Ufira zone on Rusinga Island who, with their warm hospitality, friendliness and patience, made working there a very rewarding experience. Thanks to C. Dietsche and M. Bodenhöfer and to Prof. Dr. T. Krings, the supervisor of this master’s thesis. Furthermore, I want to thank my family for the fact that I could always count on their support, inspiration and patience. Last but not least, a very special thanks goes to Dan Okombo, my research partner, host and friend on Rusinga Island. Without him, the fieldwork on Rusinga would not have been possible. This master’s thesis is dedicated to him and his family. Index 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Theory............................................................................................................................................. 3 2.1 Hazards in history: ‘Acts of God’ and ‘the violent forces of nature’......................... 3 2.2 Vulnerability...............................................................................................................5 2.2.1 Vulnerability in relation to poverty.................................................................... 6 2.2.2 The concept of vulnerability .............................................................................. 7 2.2.3 Strategies .......................................................................................................... 10 2.2.4 Rendering the World Unsafe? Bankoff’s criticism of the concept of vulnerability ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.5 Linking hazard and vulnerability ..................................................................... 12 2.2.6 Concepts of risk................................................................................................ 13 2.2.7 Vulnerability to diseases .................................................................................. 14 2.3 The livelihood framework........................................................................................ 15 2.3.1 Assets ............................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2 Hazard context.................................................................................................. 17 2.3.3 Transforming structures and processes ............................................................ 18 2.3.4 Livelihood strategies........................................................................................ 18 2.3.5 Livelihood outcomes........................................................................................ 18 2.3.6 The livelihood model ....................................................................................... 19 2.3.7 Critique............................................................................................................. 20 3 Geographical context.................................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Kenya ....................................................................................................................... 20 3.1.1 Geography ........................................................................................................ 20 3.1.2 History and politics.......................................................................................... 22 3.2 Rusinga Island.......................................................................................................... 23 4 Fieldwork and methods................................................................................................................. 26 4.1 The research area...................................................................................................... 26 4.2 The fieldwork........................................................................................................... 28 4.3 Difficulties and problems......................................................................................... 29 5 Livelihoods on Kaknaga/Ufira Zone ............................................................................................ 30 5.1 Assets ....................................................................................................................... 30 5.1.1 Human capital.................................................................................................. 30 5.1.2 Natural capital.................................................................................................. 33 5.1.3 Social capital.................................................................................................... 35 5.1.4 Financial capital............................................................................................... 38 5.1.5 Physical capital................................................................................................. 41 5.1.6 Livelihood assets, three examples.................................................................... 44 5.2 Hazard context.......................................................................................................... 44 5.2.1 HIV/AIDS ........................................................................................................ 45 5.2.2 Malaria ............................................................................................................. 47 5.2.3 Other diseases................................................................................................... 47 5.2.4 Witchcraft......................................................................................................... 48 5.2.5 Dangerous animals ........................................................................................... 49 5.2.6 Free roaming livestock..................................................................................... 49 5.2.7 Drought............................................................................................................. 50 5.2.8 Population growth............................................................................................ 50 5.2.9 Malnutrition and famine................................................................................... 51 5.2.10 Newly introduced species................................................................................. 51 5.2.11 Declining catches and the fishing ban.............................................................. 52 5.2.12 Soil erosion....................................................................................................... 53 5.2.13 Agricultural pests............................................................................................. 53 5.2.14 A classification of hazards in the research area ............................................... 54 5.3 Structural context..................................................................................................... 55 5.4 Livelihood strategies................................................................................................ 58 6 Risks and vulnerability in Kaknaga/Ufira Zone, the example malaria......................................... 61 6.1 Malaria ..................................................................................................................... 61 6.2 The hazard of malaria on Kaknaga/Ufira Zone........................................................ 63 6.3 The risk of malaria on Kaknaga/Ufira Zone ............................................................ 66 6.3.1 Probabilistic perspective of the risk of malaria infection................................. 66 6.3.2 Probabilistic perspective of the risk of undesirable outcomes ......................... 67 6.3.3 Social perspectives on risk ............................................................................... 70 6.4 Perception of malaria .............................................................................................. 71 6.5 Linkages between malaria and other livelihood components .................................