Contribution of Jamii imara project to improvement of livelihoods in Kiawara slums of Nyeri county, Kenya

Abstract

Improvement of livelihoods is critical in tackling the distressful living conditions habitants of slums encounter. This study intended to investigate the contribution of Jamii Imara (Resilient Community) Project to improvement of livelihoods in Kiawara Slums of Nyeri County, Kenya. The four objectives of the study were: to establish the influence of beneficiaries grouping to improvement of livelihoods in Kiawara Slums; to assess the influence of capacity building to improvement of livelihoods in Kiawara Slums; to establish the influence of promotion of saving culture to improvement of livelihoods in Kiawara Slums and; to assess the influence of microcredit advancement to improvement of livelihoods in Kiawara Slums. Research questions, research hypotheses, significance, limitations, delimitation, basic assumptions of the study, definitions of significant terms and organization of the study were outlined. The literature was reviewed to establish the findings by other studies on the independent variables namely beneficiaries grouping, capacity building, promotion of saving culture and microcredit advancement. A theory related to livelihoods improvement was discussed. A conceptual framework showing the relationship between the four independent variables and dependent variable and knowledge gaps were outlined. The study used a survey research design with questionnaire being the main research instrument. A sample of 75 respondents consisting of the project beneficiaries was selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. Content validity was ensured by clearly operationalizing the purpose and objectives of the study and consultation with the supervisor while external validity was ensured by selecting adequate sample that was representative of the population. Split-half method was used to calculate reliability using questionnaires from a pilot study consisting of 8 respondents. Spearman-Brown prophecy formula was applied to calculate reliability correlation coefficient whereby the results was 0.87 which was acceptable. Descriptive statistics were applied in analysis of quantitative and quantified qualitative data while hypotheses were tested using bivariate (Pearson) correlation to measure the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Data presentation was done using frequencies and percentages. SPSS Version 20 was used to compute statistics. The study concluded that beneficiaries grouping, capacity building, promotion of saving culture and microcredit advancement have influence on improvement of livelihoods.