INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON SUSTAINABILITY OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT GROUPS IN PASTORALIST COMMUNITIES IN KENYA: A CASE OF TIATY SUB-COUNTY, BARINGO COUNTY MWANJA ERIC MUHIA A Research Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree in Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management of the University of Nairobi 2020 DECLARATION I declare that this research project report is my original work presented to the University of Nairobi only and not any other University/ Institution Sign……………………………………….……… Date………………………………………. ERIC MUHIA MWANJA L50/64833/2010 This Research project report has been submitted for examination with my approval as the University supervisor Sign…………………………………….………... Date …………………………………………. Dr Mary Mwenda Lecturer Department of Open Leaning University of Nairobi ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to mum Rosemary, my brother Peter and my dear loving wife Nelly and children Favour and Prince as they have been part of my life and this work all through. For we have walked through this journey together. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I acknowledge with appreciation the help of those who contributed and offered their time in this project. Profound thanks to Dr Mary Mwenda, for the valuable input and support throughout the course of writing this project with whom her busy schedule not withstanding relentlessly read through my work and offered both academic and moral support. I also acknowledge the support of my lecturers Professor Christopher Gakuo, Professor Harriet Kidombo and Professor Macharia David of University of Nairobi Department of Open Learning for imparting the necessary theoretical knowledge during my course work without which I could not have successfully completed this work. I also acknowledge the University of Nairobi for conferring on me the opportunity to study this Master of Arts degree. iv TABLE OF CONTENT DECLARATION............................................................................................................................ i DEDICATION.............................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENT ................................................................................................................ v LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................................... xi ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the Study ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ......................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Delimitation of Study ............................................................................................................ 7 1.8 Limitations of the Study ........................................................................................................ 7 1.9 Assumptions of the Study ..................................................................................................... 7 1.10 Definition of Significant Terms Used in the Study ............................................................. 7 1.11 Organization of the Study ................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 10 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 10 v 2.2 Sustainability of Women Empowerment Groups in the Pastoralist’s Communities .......... 10 2.3 Income Generating Activities and Sustainability of Women Empowerment Groups in the Pastoralists Communities. ......................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Social capital and Sustainability of Women Empowerment Groups in the Pastoralist communities in Kenya. .............................................................................................................. 13 2.5 Cultural orientation and Sustainability of Women Empowerment Groups in the Pastoralists Communities in Kenya .............................................................................................................. 14 2.6 Education Level and Sustainability of Women Empowerment groups in the Pastoralists Communities in Kenya. ............................................................................................................. 16 2.7 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................................... 18 2.7.1 Social Network Theory................................................................................................. 18 2.7.2 Asset-Building Community Theory ............................................................................. 19 2.8 Conceptual Framework ....................................................................................................... 19 2.9 Summary of literature review .............................................................................................. 22 2.10 Research gap ..................................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 28 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 28 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 28 3.2 Research design ................................................................................................................... 28 3.3 Target Population ................................................................................................................ 28 3.4 Sample size and sampling procedure .................................................................................. 29 3.4.1 Sample size ................................................................................................................... 29 3.4.2 Sampling Procedures .................................................................................................... 31 3.5 Research Instruments .......................................................................................................... 31 3.5.1 Piloting of the research instruments ............................................................................. 31 3.5.2 Validity of Data Collection Instruments....................................................................... 32 3.5.3 Reliability of Data Collection Instruments ................................................................... 32 3.6 Data Collection Procedure .................................................................................................. 33 3.7 Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.8 Ethical Considerations......................................................................................................... 34 3.9 Operationalization of Variables .......................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER FOUR ....................................................................................................................... 37 vi DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION ..................................... 37 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 37 4.2 Questionnaire Return Rate .................................................................................................. 37 4.3 Demographic Information ..................................................................................................