| dc.description.abstract | It is the central thesis of this study that the socio-economic status (SES) of families is a major determinant of social participation among peasant communities in rural Kenya. Survey data from Mbooni, a rural area in Machakos District in Eastern Kenya is used to determine whether the same relationship which has been found in other communities (mostly in an urban context) between SES and social participation exists also in rural Kenya. Hence the study investigates the extent to which in a rural area several forms of social participation are related to SES as indicated by the major independent variables i.e. education, occupation, income and levels of living. Sex, age, and attitudes towards participation in community activities are other independent variables examined in the study. The study also holds that the same forces determine the degree to which individuals become either alienated or committed in processes accruing to social participation. The major aim of the study therefore is to explain why some groups or some individuals within groups are actively involved in the various areas of participation that we have studied, i.e.:
(1) Voluntary organizations, for example in cooperatives and self-help groups;
(2) Political activity - like voting; and
(3) Informal aspects of participation which include barazas, and field demonstrations,-
while others are either not actively involved or even not involved at all.
A major justification of this investigation lies in the observation made in recent research
studies that rural development has come to mean an approach to increase the level of participation of the rural population in the development process and to improve the level of living of the rural population, for example in increased incomes, employment opportunities, welfare amenities, and so on. A recognition is also made that development is impossible without a greater contribution from the vast majority of the working population in developing countries, who are in the rural sector. In view of this, therefore, a study on social participation in rural development becomes a crucial area of inquiry. And it is our hope that it will greatly enhance the present conception of peasant behaviour and his socioe conomic constraints in rural development process.
The study area, Mbooni, ecology provides natural clusters which formed the basis for the
sampling strategy used in the study, i.e. stratified random sampling. The rural household is the unit of study, where the household heads are the respondents.
The interview schedule is the major data gathering tool utilized in this study.
The major findings emerging from Mbooni data show that a majority of farmers suffer from very poor incomes, low levels of living, low formal education and consequently low degree of social participation. However, despite the low socio-economic status and general low participation among a majority of Mbooni farmers, there are marked differences in individual degree of participation in the various aspects of participation we have studied in this area. We have found that there is a consistent trend which is statistically significant for the following socioeconomic groups to be more likely active participants in the areas of participation covered, these are:-
(a) higher income persons
(b) persons with high levels of living
(c) persons'with high levels of formal education
and (d) persons in higher Qccupational ranking.
Hence towards an explanation of differential participation
among individuals, we have come to the conclusion that this is largely accounted for by SES differences of the individual participants. Thus our central thesis of the study has been confirmed, that SES is a major determinant of social participation, even in a rural area, where our Kenyan case conforms to the general pattern. All the hypotheses we set out to test relating SES and social participation, have been confirmed by our data. The same data, however, has shown almost no relationship between sex and social participation, and in fact a negative relationship was established between attitudes and social participation.
The many socio-economic disadvantages of rural farmers in Kenya, and generalizable in most developing countries, as demonstrated by our study are reflected in a lack of schooling, low levels of education, poor incomes, low level labour skills of which is a major constraint in absorbing them in the development process through their taking an active participation in those areas (for example in economic organizations) through which it is hoped they can improve their lot towards high levels of living, increased incomes, welfare amenities and employment opportunities. In this context, therefore, we have called for a re-defini tion 'of rural development which should purposefully have its focus on the socio-economically deprived majority in rural areas here in our study identified and referred to as the "target" group, whose characteristics are listed here below:-
(a) no schooling (lack formal education),
(b) have incomes below K.shs. 2,400 p.a.,
(c) have low levels of living, as characterized
by possession of only 5 household items,
Le. "karai ", table, wooden box, easy chairs and torch. (Note: those with high levels of living possess 18 items, two of which are characteristic of this group only, i.e. vono bed and motor vehicle),
(d) are often petty traders, casual labourers, and those who are not engaged in any nonfarm activity.
However, multivariate analysis on the major SES indicators has shown that occupation accounts for the strongest variation in social participation
particulary in voluntary organizations. Hence type and conditions of employment and benefits for example, freedom of personal time, for the majority in the rural areas emerges as a foremost crucial factor in enhancing active participation for both men and women
in the development process. | en |
