This chapter describes the area of study, the sample and sampling procedure, and data collection and analysis.
3.1 Study Area
The study area is Kakamega District. This is the provincial headquarters of Western Province. Other districts in the province include Bungoma, Busia, Mount Elgon, Teso, Lugare and Butere Mumias and Vihiga. Other neighbouring districts outside the province are Nandi, Uasi Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Siaya. The district lies between longitudes 34020’ and 350E and latitudes 0015’ and 10N of the equator. The total area of the district is 3020 sq. km.
The district has varying topography with altitudes ranging from 1250 metres to 2000 metres above sea level. The district has two main physiographic units, namely the southern hilly belt made up of rugged granites rising to 1950 metres above sea level and the peneplain with remnants of denudation at Kakunga and Kambiri. The district has two main rivers: the Nzoia which originates in the Cherengani hills of Trans-Nzoia District and the Yala which originates in the Nandi Hills east of Kakamega District and it flows westwards through Kakamega forest and in the southern part of the district.
There are two rain seasons in the district: the long rains start in March and end in June with the peak in May; and the short rains begin in July and end in September with a peak in August. The driest months are December, January and February. The rainfall varies from 1,000 mm per annum in the northern parts of the district to 2,400 mm per annum in the southern parts. The district has high temperatures all the year round with slight variations in mean maximum and minimum ranges of 250C to 320C and 110C to 130C, respectively. Because of the climate, the district is suitable for crops such as bananas, nappier grass, beans, sugarcane, maize and horticultural crops.
Ikolomani Division (140 sq. km) had a population of 82,597 by 1989 and is estimated at 124,378 for 2001 while Navakholo Division (187 sq. km.) had 48,113 by 1989 and estimated at 72,451 for 2001.The population density projections for the two divisions by 2001 were estimated at 888 and 387 people pre square kilometre, respectively. Ikolomani and Navakholo have no town centres developed like Mumias and Kakamega; therefore, they are not well served with roads and other infrastructure necessary for industrialization. Navakholo is well known for sugarcane and Ikolomani for tea. The two divisions also grow maize.
3.2 Population Profile in the Study Area
The total population for Kakamega District in 1989 was 1,005,878 and at a growth rate of 2.98 % per year. It is estimated at 1,514,698 by 2001. The Kenya Gender Data Sheet for 2000 reported that Kakamega District had 677,000 women and 623,000 men making a total of 1,300,000 people. Due to the rapid population growth in the district, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand of basic facilities. The high population has also created pressure on land as the average farm size by household is becoming smaller and smaller. In the long run, an increased depth of poverty will follow in the district. Women aged between 15 and 49 years make 22.9% of this population. In 1994, the adult literacy level in the district was 67.5% for women and 84.9% for men. The scholastic progression showed women at 44% and men at 49.4%. This is surprising because women show a higher percentage (42.6%) of primary school completion rate than do men (35.9%); yet, entry to secondary school for men is high. By 1991, there were 1285 women-only groups in the District. However, the number increased to 7435 groups in 1998. According to the Kenya Gender Data Sheet for 2000, Kakamega District had the largest number of women-only groups. However, the District Social Development Officer (DSDO) reported that there were 2066 registered women-only groups with a membership of 57,848; 630 mixed-sex self-help groups with membership of 5563 and 287 youth groups. There were no registered men groups. He however noted that only few of the registered groups were active.
3.3 Research Design
Survey design was used in the study because of its advantage of using a reasonable sample which can allow for generalization and because of its descriptive nature. It helped collect information about feelings and attitudes. In a survey at least 5% of the sample should be covered. In the study, 6.5% of the groups in the regions were studied, which is a good sample size.
3.3.1 Sampling Technique and Sample Size
The district has currently seven divisions out of which two divisions were deliberately chosen for this study: Ikolomani with approximately 888 persons per sq. km. and Navakholo with approximately 387 persons per sq. km. (not over populated) by 2001.The researcher visited the two selected Divisions to confirm the number of groups active in the region. In Navakholo, there were 300 groups while in Ikolomani there were 283 groups. No men only groups were found except one in Ikolomani. Stratified systematic random sampling was used to get the sample of both mixed-sex and women-only groups. Members in the groups were randomly picked to give information which enhanced the analysis of the information given by group leaders. Group leaders (the chairperson and the secretary) were picked to report on group activities and progress. Government officials (DSDO), the divisional Social Development Officers and locational Social Development Assistants and any NGO officials on the ground/field were interviewed. Tables 1 and 2 show the sampling of groups and respondents, respectively.
Table 1. Sample of groups
Group type |
Navakholo |
Ikolomani |
Total |
Men-only |
- |
1 |
1 |
Women-only |
8 |
10 |
18 |
Mixed-sex |
12 |
7 |
19 |
Total |
20 |
18 |
38 |
Table 2. Total number of respondents
Unit description |
Navakholo |
Ikolomani |
Total |
Leaders |
40 |
36 |
76 |
Members |
25 |
36 |
61 |
District SDO |
1 |
1 | |
Divisional SDO |
1 |
1 |
2 |
SDA |
2 |
1 |
3 |
NGO |
- |
2 |
2 |
Total |
69 |
75 |
145 |
In total, 145 people were interviewed. Focus group discussions were also organized, one from each division. The focus group discussions had 10 and 14 participants each. Although some representatives failed to turn up for the discussions, the discussions went on as scheduled because of time and financial costs especially when some were to travel from far to the meeting centre.
3.3.2 Data Collection Techniques
Primary data were collected using structured interview schedules, oral interview guides, focus discussion guides and questionnaires. Secondary data were gathered from libraries (books, journals, newspapers, magazines, etc.).
The structured interviews sought for information about the social, economic and demographic status of the respondents and the group activities and their benefits to the members and the larger community. Views on leadership and management were also sought. Although the unit of analysis was a group, members in the groups provided information that helped discuss differences in the groups.
Questionnaires for the group leaders intended to get information on the group activities, management of groups, members’ participation, financial status and government and NGO involvement in group projects.
Oral interviews for NGOs and Government Officials sought for information about financial status of groups, their objectives, project funding and other assistance programmes to the groups. Information on evaluation of group performance, the effects of cultural values on group performance and drawbacks to group sustainability was also sought.
Focus group discussion guides sought information regarding leadership in groups, weaknesses and strengths, cultural factors and funding strategies advocated by various types of groups and performance of groups. Focus group discussion, according to Napier 1999, is different from other groups in the following ways:
i) It has 7-10 voluntary members who participate in one meeting that lasts 1-1.5 hours under the direction of a moderator;
ii) Group members share a commonality;
iii) Group members generate data that are recorded and/ observed unobtrusively, through a two-way mirror;
iv) The data generated are qualitative, that is, they proceed from in-depth, spontaneous, natural responses. The data are expressed in the respondents’ own words and in the context of the question asked; and
v) The in-depth discussion is focused in terms of research interests of the sponsor of the study. The moderator steers the discussion, probes selectively and maintains the focus of the discussion.
In the study, two focus group discussions were held, one from each division. Each member in the focus group represented a group; hence, they were new to one another and could freely give their views. Focus group discussion was important in this study because it helped extract information from people (their thoughts, ideas, opinions and judgement) without requiring them to identify themselves by names. In a focus group, people explore their thinking about specific topics and thus contribute to the pool of knowledge about human behaviour. Focus group discussion is important in facilitating culturally sensitive research. This is because it is invigorating – people report gaining enthusiasm and satisfaction from the experience. Focus group discussion instils in members a sense of being important
3.4 Data Analysis
Since most of the responses were qualitative in nature, descriptive analysis was used. Percentages and means were also used to compare differences between groups. T-tests were also done on some quantitative data to establish the significance of the differences between the two groups. The rest was the description of the state of affairs within the groups especially on matters concerning attitudes, opinions and culture.
T-test was chosen because:
i) It is usable for all sample sizes and takes in account the sample size (the number of groups varied, hence the differences in groups was not affected by the variation in number of groups);
ii) It is suitable in testing the significance of the differences between means of variables for groups; and
iii) T-distribution is based on the differences in the degrees of freedom. That is, the t-value must be greater than the smallest t-value at a given significance level and degrees of freedom.
3.5 Definition of Variables
The dependent variable was performance measured in terms of sustainability of projects and the incomes from projects. The study looked at the types of projects done by groups, their viability and relevance in terms of meeting the members’ needs and those of the larger community (benefits to members and number of households served in the community). Performance was also measured in terms of the incomes derived from these activities.
Sustainability was dependent on a number of factors. These were called the intervening variables because they were different for each group calling for differences in the achievements of groups. These included: the sex of members; education level of members; the size of the group; culture (role differentiation, access to and use of resources, and belief system); leadership and management skills; commitment to group activities (frequency of meetings, time, and monetary and material contributions); internal and external assistance (financial, service, advice and material); members’ skills; government policies and group relations with others. The independent variables in this study were the groups.
