Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

Non-existent micro-level estimates on the impact of migration on livelihood in rural areas in Kenya, compounded with minimal literature on the same, called for this study. This study used secondary data from the 2005 to 2015 African Wildlife Foundation Livelihoods dataset from Kilimanjaro landscape, with the purpose was of undertaking a comparative livelihood analysis between the in-migrant and non-migrant communities in Kimana Community of Kajiado County in Kenya. The study shows that in-migrants engage in a variety of livelihood strategies unlike non-migrants who undertake mainly livestock rearing. Livelihood endowment is associated with diversification of strategies, and was established to be responsive to: nutritional status of children from either of the communities; amount of land under cultivation; level of education, and; stability of market based on household economic status. Lower food security due elderly headed households and spouses with low level of education was observed among the non-migrant communities. Equally, children of in-migrants had a higher stunting rate (6.06 percent) compared to those of non-migrants (5.12 percent), just as the anthropometric assessment showed that children of the non-migrant communities than those of the in-migrants had higher nutritional levels. Household livelihood assets like natural resources, education of household spouses, tradition and culture of the people, was established to be significant factors affecting food and nutrition security.

It implies that food security (i.e. availability, stability and dietary diversity) is better among the in-migrant households than the non-migrant households, while anthropometry assessments show that non-migrants have higher nutritional capacity than their in-migrant counterparts; implying that food availability does not necessarily ensure food security. Education of female spouse rather than male household head positively influences the food availability and stability in the household. Hence, the need for policies that are responsive to female education, natural resource exploitation and micro-level population policies.

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Abstract

Macro-data generated from censuses and surveys have often been used for migration analysis in Kenya; however, for the first time, this study uses Demographic Surveillance Systems (DSS) data collected from Rusinga Island (i.e. a DSS site of the Population Studies and Research Institute of the University of Nairobi). The objective being to establish: the prevailing migration schedules; prevailing migrant characteristics and migration patterns; reasons for migration, and; who makes decisions for migration to occur on Rusinga Island. The study established that even with the use of DSS data, migration schedule in Rusinga Island was two-humped and similar to those often generated using Kenya censuses and survey data; the major reasons for migration were for purposes of education, marriage and settlement, and; the family being the major decision-maker of migration. Recommendation being that the use of DSS data be enhanced as it positively impacts on the timeliness and undertaking of area specific migration analyses. In addition, undertake more development ventures in Rusinga Island the area was noted to be in post-tradition development stage.

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