The role of social capital on the livelihood security of women in the Obbu region, northern Kenya

Abstract

People who live in traditional societies, including pastoralists are known for strong social networks, which play vital role for their livelihood security means. This study seeks to understand the operations of marro network among women living in rural and peri-urban community(ies), and the benefits they gain from being members of the marro and organized women´s group. The study was drawn from a secondary data source collected in 2015 which was supplied by my supervisor from a larger study. Simple random sampling technique was utilized to select 51 households composed of women who were participants of social networks in the rural and peri-urban community (ies). Results show that women in their middle age participated more in the rural community, whilst the old women participated more in the peri-urban community. Also, most of the women had problems acquiring food due to high food prices in the rural, and low availability of food in the peri-urban community. Many women in both communities were involved in the marro network, and the women in both communities used cooperation and sharing as the main criteria to engage themselves in marro. Women from both communities who participated in the marro and the organized women´s group exchanged resources and gained benefits from the two groups. The benefits involved support for each other, building houses for projects and helping the needy. The most widely exchanged resources included farm produce, water, and firewood. The study recommends the implementation of responsive and sustainable food and livelihood security programmes and projects among pastoral women.