| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to establish factors influencing selection of rural fmancial services in pastoral communities of Kenya using experiences from the pastoral Loita Maasai community in Loita Division, Narok County. The study aimed to achieve three main objectives, namely: (i) Examine how fmancial viability influences selection of rural fmancial services by the pastoral Loita Maasai community in Loita Division; (ii) Establish how environmental sustainability influences selection of rural fmancial services by the pastoral L~ita Maasai community in Loita Division; and (iii) Establish how socio-cultural acceptability influences selection of rural fmancial services by the pastoral Loita Maasai community in Loita Division, Narok County, 28 respondents were purposively sampled from the 6 Pastoral Community Development Authorities (PCDAs), fmancial institutions operating in Narok region, Provincial Administration, opinion leaders, community based development groups, and programme officers from NGOs operating in the area. The study recorded an excellent response rate of 82%.
The fmdings, discussions and recommendations contained in this report will be useful input for designing suitable rural development strategies for reducing poverty and accelerating development in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). It is expected that outputs of the study will inform various stakeholders in the local development sector as well as micro-finance industry about the critical success factors for developing sustainable rural fmancial systems in pastoral communities especially the Loita Maasai. The study adopted a sample survey design to help undertake descriptive research. Apart from questionnaires and interview guides, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was used to engage the target community leaders, women and youth groups on the study topic. More than 80% of the target respondents from the elders' council, women and youth groups were interviewed during a political leaders meeting held on 31st August 2012 near Ilkerin shopping centre. Most of the quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented using frequency distribution tables.
The Atlas TI software was used to synthesize qualitative information into a coherent description, similar responses given appropriate code frames and excerpts extracted from the narrative. According to the study fmdings on fmancial viability, there were no formal fmancial institutions in Loita Division though the Division was profitable for fmancial institutions. At the same time, support to community owned fmancial providers, a consumer-friendly loan repayment system, consumer protection policy and pro-poor components influence selection of rural fmancial services by pastoral communities such as the Loita Maasai. On the environmental issues, the ability of the model to provide a number of opportunities to improve environment sustainability, association, and community coordinated implementation of the conservation and rural fmance components influence its selection. On the social cultural concerns, the ability to build mutually supportive culture, provision of social funds to support education, ritual rites and access to health as well as contribution to social status and building of trust has influenced the choice of fmancial services in pastoral communities. The study recommends that further research be conducted in another constituency where a different economic activity is practiced, in agriculture or fishing regions, on the same topic in order to generate a broader understanding of the factors influencing selection of fmancial services in multi-cultural pastoral society. It is also recommended that research be conducted to establish the impact of gender issues on local development in pastoral communities such as the Loita Maasai of Narok County. | en_US |
