ABSTRACT
Food security is the first of the eight Millennium Development Goals, which seeks to
eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015. Despite Kakamega Central
District having so many SHGs, studies have shown that food insecurity was on the rise.
The study examined the contribution of SHGs to household food security by comparing
the food security status between members and non members of SHGs. A survey was
carried out to establish the factors that enhance the effectiveness of Self Help Groups,
constraints faced by SHGs as well a~ opportunities available for SHGs in their efforts to
enhance food security. The study was conducted amongst 150 Self Help Groups operating
within Kakamega Central District. Purposive sampling was used in selecting Kakamega
Central District and key informants while multistage and random sampling were used in
selecting households of self help group members and non-members. The correlation and
cross-sectional survey research designs were employed. Data on food among Self Help
Group members and non members was collected using pre-tested semi-structured
questionnaires. Focus Group Discussions were also used and involved members of the self
help groups in order to understand the problems and opportunities faced by SHGs.
Interview guides were used to collect data from key informants from the Social Services
Department ofKakamega Central District. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was
used in the analysis of data with Analysis of Variance being used to test association of self
help group membership and household food security. A Household Dietary Diversity
Score, which is a proxy measure for food access was calculated for each household. The
findings revealed that the factors that influence the effectiveness of SHGs were
commitment and unity among members, transparency and good leadership, availability of
funds and sound planning and managerial skills. The study established that members of
Self Help Groups were more food secure as compared to non members. The study
established that the constraints facing Self Help Groups were inadequate funds, lack of
adequate knowledge and necessary skills to run Self Help Groups, lack of group cohesion
as a setback to members' progress, lack of transparency and poor leadership. Opportunities
for SHGs included availability of loans and grants from micro-finance institutions and
Department of Gender and Social Development respectively, which were not fully utilized.
The study recommends that there is need for the Department of Gender and Social
Development to organise trainings to equip Self Help Groups members with adequate
skills and knowledge necessary for running Self Help Groups. There is also need for the
non members to be sensitized on the contributions of SHGs, so that they enroll and
participate in SHGs activities to boost food security in Kakamega County. Factors that
encourage Self Help Groups effectiveness like commitment and unity among members,
transparency and good leadership, availability of funds, sound planning and managerial
skills should be enhanced through capacity building of the members.
, W & WEKESA, E (2021). The Contribution Of Self Help Groups To Household Food Security In Kakamega Central District, Kenya. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/the-contribution-of-self-help-groups-to-household-food-security-in-kakamega-central-district-kenya
, WANJALA and ERIC WEKESA "The Contribution Of Self Help Groups To Household Food Security In Kakamega Central District, Kenya" Afribary. Afribary, 07 May. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/the-contribution-of-self-help-groups-to-household-food-security-in-kakamega-central-district-kenya. Accessed 06 Nov. 2024.
, WANJALA, ERIC WEKESA . "The Contribution Of Self Help Groups To Household Food Security In Kakamega Central District, Kenya". Afribary, Afribary, 07 May. 2021. Web. 06 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/the-contribution-of-self-help-groups-to-household-food-security-in-kakamega-central-district-kenya >.
, WANJALA and WEKESA, ERIC . "The Contribution Of Self Help Groups To Household Food Security In Kakamega Central District, Kenya" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 06, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/the-contribution-of-self-help-groups-to-household-food-security-in-kakamega-central-district-kenya