PARTICIPATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CONSUMPTION OF AVOCADO TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY IN EVURORE DIVISION MBEERE NORTH SUB-COUNTY, EMBU COUNTY BY EUGENIO IRERI NYAGA C50/CE/11126/06 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES IN THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER, 2017 DECLARATION This Thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree award in any other university. Signature………………………………………..Date …………………………. Eugenio Ireri Nyaga Reg No: C50/CE/11126/06 Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Kenyatta University This Thesis has been submitted with our approval for examination as university supervisors. Signature…………………………………………Date……………………… Dr. Josephine Gitome Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Kenyatta University Signature…………………………………………Date……………………… Dr. Margaret Gecaga Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Kenyatta University ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my father, Joshua and mother Justa for their tireless effort to pay my school fee and in showing me the importance of education. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this study is as a result of concerted effort by many people. It is not possible to fully acknowledge all the individuals and organizations that contributed to making this study a reality. I thank the Almighty God who has given me life and strength to write this work. I humbly register my sincere appreciation to a few people without whom this work would not have come this far. I wish to express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to my supervisors; Dr. Josephine Gitome and Dr. Margaret Gecaga who have come a long way with me reading and guiding every draft of this work right from the proposal stage. They provided me with ideas and materials among others. I am greatly indebted to Prof. Ruth Wanjau of Chemistry Department for guiding me on the value and uses of avocado. I thank Dr. Stephen Nyaga and Dr. Zacharia Samita for their valuable encouragement throughout the writing of this thesis. Special thanks go to Dr. Cyprian Kavivya for guiding me in the final stage of this thesis. I appreciate the Catholic Diocese of Embu Development Office for allowing me to access their Libraries and for providing me with information on the programmes carried out by the Church. To all my respondents without whom this work would not have been possible, feel appreciated. I cannot forget to thank my school Principal Mrs. Nancy Kimathi of St. Christopher Secondary School, Embu, for giving me ample time while writing this thesis. Last but not least, I am greatly thankful to all the members of my immediate family for appreciating my effort and coping with my absence during the long period I have taken to write this thesis. iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CBOs: Community Based Organizations CBS: Central Bureau of Statistics GNP: Gross National Product IRDP: Integrated Rural Development Program FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization FGDS: Focused Group Discussions O I: Oral Informant UN: United Nations UK: United Kingdom UNEP: United Nations Environmental Program. UNDP: United Nations Development Programme UNPFA: United Nation Population Fund USA: United States of America WFC: World Food Confederation GTZ: Gesellschaft fur Techniche Zusammenarbeit (German International Corporation) VAT: Value Added Tax v GLOSSARY OF EMBU AND MBEERE WORDS USED IN THE TEXT Kiere; Millet Kiviri: Food made from green arrow root leaves Kimere : A raw dough made from ground millet Maguna Ngui : Avocado. Gitwero: Dish prepared from bananas mashed with potatoes Yura ria kilo: The 1970-71 infamous famine Kembu (Mwene Ndega): The first ancestor of Embu Muembu: The native of Embu (singular) Aembu: The natives of Embu (plural) Nuunaleile nsuu: To die Nthara: (Cianthia): The wife of Mwene Ndega or Kembu Ningua ngwete: The notorious famine of 1981-82 Mumbeere: Said to be the father of Cianthia vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .......................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ......................................................................v GLOSSARY OF EMBU AND MBEERE WORDS USED IN THE TEXT ............... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES .........................................................................................................x LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... xi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ xii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 1.1 Background to the Study ..........................................................................................1 1.2 Historical Background of the Ambeere Community ...............................................4 1.3 The Advent of the Avocado among the Ambeere .................................................12 1.4 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................13 1.5 Objectives of the Study ..........................................................................................14 1.6 Research Questions ................................................................................................14 1.7 Research Premises .................................................................................................15 1.8 Justification and Significance to the Study ............................................................15 1.9 Scope and Limitation of Study ..............................................................................17 CHAPTER TWO .........................................................................................................18 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ......................18 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................18 2.2 Causes of Food Insecurity ......................................................................................18 2.3 Religio-Cultural Factors that Affect Food Production...........................................26 2.4 Theology of Food ...................................................................................................28 2.5 The Church‟s Participation in the Enhancement of Food Security ........................38 2.6 Theoretical Framework ..........................................................................................42 CHAPTER THREE .....................................................................................................48 vii RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.................................................................................48 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................48 3.2 Research Design.....................................................................................................48 3.3 The Study Area ......................................................................................................49 3.4 Sampling Techniques .............................................................................................50 3.4.1 Catholic Church Project Coordinators ................................................................51 3.4.2 Catholic Priests ...................................................................................................51 3.4.3 Evurore Farmers..................................................................................................52 3.5 Research Instruments .............................................................................................53 3.5.1 Questionnaires.....................................................................................................54 3.5.2 Interviews ............................................................................................................54 3.6 Validity and Reliability ..........................................................................................55 3.7 Data Collection ......................................................................................................55 3.8 Data Analysis .........................................................................................................56 3.9 Data Management ..................................................................................................56 3.10 Ethical Consideration ...........................................................................................56 CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................58 DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION .........................58 4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................58 4.1 Causes