3.1 Research Design
The study being exploratory and therefore descriptive in nature adopted the qualitative research paradigm as the main method to exhaustively and effectively explore the famine situation in Turkana District. Qualitative methods are participatory in nature and seek to understand the reality of the situation from the actors’ point of view (Kane 1995). In addition, a qualitative study implies an in-depth study that utilizes a variety of data collection techniques, which envisage wholesomeness of data (Kane 1995). Qualitative methods were therefore utilized to analyze the problems and challenges facing men and women in the drought stricken Turkana District of Kenya. To supplement the qualitative data, however, simple quantitative methods were also utilized.
3.2 Sampling Design
3.2.1 Study Location
Under the umbrella of the qualitative research paradigm, non-probability sampling was used to select the study areas. Consequently, purposive sampling was used to select Turkana District as the study site since it is the most affected area in Kenya by drought and famine. This, coupled with other characteristics such as refugees, bandits and cattle rustling activities makes Turkana District an interesting area of study (Daily Nation, 31st November 1999).
Turkana District occupies the north-western part of Kenya, being located on the western side of Lake Turkana. It is one of the largest districts in the Rift Valley province sharing international borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. In Kenya, it borders Marsabit District to the east, Samburu District to the south-east and Baringo and West Pokot Districts to the south. Much of the eastern end of the District is on Lake Turkana which stretches north to south for more than 200 km. Two seasonal rivers, Turkwell and Kerio, run through the district. Generally, the district is semi-arid with erratic and unreliable rainfall patterns (GOK 1999). However, the climatic conditions of the district are not homogenous to all divisions. Some areas are drier than others. Based on this fact, the study purposively selected three Divisions of varying climatic and social environments to decipher the differing effect of drought on the residents.
Kapua: It is located approximately 50 km north of Lodwar Town, in the Central Division. This area was chosen because of its dryness. It experiences an average temperature of 37oC with no rainfall most of the year. When it rains, it falls in torrents washing away all the planted seeds and grass and hence has very little pasture for the animals. Consequently, Kapua is a purely pastoralist area. The residents have to walk long distances to access water in view of the low water table. Other infrastructures such as roads are of equally of bad condition. For example, the road from Kapua to Lodwar, which is the only access road, is impassable when it rains (GOK 1999).
Kalokol: It is situated on the shores of Lake Turkana, 68 km north of Lodear Town. It is one of the largest urban centres in the District after Lodwar, Kakuma and Lokichoggio. It has fairly good infrastructure in terms of a graded road that runs to Kalokol from Lodwar. Due to its close situation to the lake, fishing is one of the major economic activities in the area. Like Kapua, it experiences high temperatures of about 37oC (GOK 1999).
Turkwell: Turkwell Centre was opened as a food Camp during the severe drought that hit the district in the late 1970s. It is located west of Lodwar Town. Like other areas in the District, the road to Lodwar is not all season; the place is dry with high temperatures. However, these conditions are counteracted by irrigation from Turkwell River that runs through the area. Agriculture is practised on a small-scale where maize, dates, beans, sorghum and vegetables are grown.
3.2.2 Selection of Informants
In view of the qualitative research design in use of the study that utilized non-probability sampling, purposive sampling was used to select the informants. The selection was based on recommendations form the village elders and District Officers. It targeted those who were knowledgeable enough to give reliable information on the drought situation. The informants were drawn from a total of 224,548 males and 226,313 females and 73,645 households inhabiting the district (GOK 2001). Table 1 gives a breakdown of the total number of informants and instruments used for each category in the three divisions chosen for the study.
Table 1. Number and category of informants and instruments
Persons |
Number |
Type of Instrument |
District Officer |
1 |
Key informant interview |
CCF staff |
6 |
Focused group discussions |
Village elders |
9 |
Key informant interviews |
Residents (male) |
75 |
Key informant interviews |
Residents (female) |
75 |
Key informant interviews |
Total |
166 |
|
3.3 Research Instruments
In order to obtain a holistic picture of the famine situation in Turkana District, the study has employed a multi-technique approach for data collection. Thus, it has used direct observation and document analysis as additional instruments.
Observations of the occupants’ social and economic activities, interaction patterns, etc., were made. An analysis of any available literature from daily newspapers, libraries and government records on the famine situation in the district was made to validate the data obtained from other sources.
3.4 Data Analysis
The study has mainly employed qualitative analytic tools. Content analysis was used to examine the interpretations and implications of the information from the documents, observation reports, and interview discussions. In addition, simple statistical tools such as percentages and frequencies were utilized to analyze and interpret some of the data.
