Differentiating Livelihood Strategies among the Luo and Kipsigis People in Western Kenya

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dc.contributor.author Schultz, Richard
dc.contributor.author Nyasimi, Mary
dc.contributor.author Burras, C.
dc.contributor.author Butler, Lorna
dc.contributor.author Burras, C. Lee
dc.contributor.author Ilahiane, Hsain
dc.contributor.author Schultz, Richard
dc.contributor.author Flora, Jan
dc.contributor.department Agronomy
dc.date 2018-02-16T11:17:12.000
dc.date.accessioned 2020-06-29T23:06:10Z
dc.date.available 2020-06-29T23:06:10Z
dc.date.copyright Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2007
dc.date.issued 2007-01-01
dc.description.abstract <p>Rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa are under increasing adaptive pressure resulting from decline in the quality of land resources. To increase food, generate income, and safeguard against risks and shocks, families are engaging in multiple livelihood strategies. This study was conducted to: 1) evaluate livelihood strategies; 2) examine the dynamic diversification process in the agrarian and non-agrarian continuum; and 3) investigate how type and availability of assets influences choice of a livelihood strategy. Results from our investigation in western Kenya suggest that as land is subjected to degradation, there is a shift in the type of assets that families can draw upon. Among the Luo, collision between deeply embedded cultural beliefs and access to land, is leading to a shift from farming to non-farming activities. They are heavily reliant on human labor to make a living hence becoming less resilient, and more vulnerable to existing and emerging risks and shocks. The overriding scenario is escalated land degradation, increased poverty levels, and a failed social support system. Asset diversification and intensification processes among the Kipsigis are closely intertwined with rapid social-cultural change and strong bonding and bridging ties. They are involved in an asset-led intensification and diversification strategies. Overall, our findings suggest that the ability to make a meaningful livelihood is dependent not only on the quality and quantity of assets that an individual household possesses, but also having capabilities to use and transform the assets as well.</p>
dc.description.comments <p>This article is from <em>Journal of Ecological Anthropology</em> 11 (2007): 43, doi:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/2162-4593.11.1.3" target="_blank">10.5038/2162-4593.11.1.3</a>. Posted with permission.</p>
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.identifier archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/56/
dc.identifier.articleid 1057
dc.identifier.contextkey 7176961
dc.identifier.s3bucket isulib-bepress-aws-west
dc.identifier.submissionpath agron_pubs/56
dc.identifier.uri https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/4927
dc.language.iso en
dc.source.bitstream archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/agron_pubs/56/2007_Burras_DifferentiatingLivelihood.pdf|||Sat Jan 15 00:56:44 UTC 2022
dc.source.uri 10.5038/2162-4593.11.1.3
dc.subject.disciplines African Studies
dc.subject.disciplines Agronomy and Crop Sciences
dc.subject.disciplines Environmental Education
dc.subject.disciplines Natural Resource Economics
dc.subject.disciplines Social and Cultural Anthropology
dc.subject.keywords sub-Saharan
dc.subject.keywords livelihood strategies
dc.subject.keywords land degradation
dc.subject.keywords diversification
dc.title Differentiating Livelihood Strategies among the Luo and Kipsigis People in Western Kenya
dc.type article
dc.type.genre article
dspace.entity.type Publication
relation.isAuthorOfPublication 70b34b2e-4540-4fad-b040-b62ff492609f
relation.isAuthorOfPublication 8742ab5b-ceec-4fd2-9668-044f07dc0c45
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication fdd5c06c-bdbe-469c-a38e-51e664fece7a
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