Determinants of Choice of Sustainability Strategies Adopted by Group Ranches in Samburu County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify, analyze and document determinants of the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County, Kenya. The concept of group ranches was introduced in Kenya to promote commercial ranching and to recognize, protect and register communal land rights. About five hundred, thirty nine group ranches were established. However, most of them dissolved and subdivided into individual land holdings within a short period.Numerous studies have been conducted on the establishment of group ranches, their dissolution and coping strategies. However, the aspect of sustainability and the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches have received little attention in these studies. This study visualized environmental, organizational, management and societal characteristics as the independent variables while the choice of sustainability strategies was the dependent variable. The general objective of the study was to examine determinants of the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by the group ranches in Samburu County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: establish environmental characteristics determining the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by group ranches in Samburu County; assess organizational characteristics determining the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by the group ranches in Samburu County; identify societal characteristics determining the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by the group ranches in Samburu County and to find out management characteristics determining the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by the group ranches in Samburu County. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design employing the use of questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observation as primary data collection methods. The target population for the study was the 16,611 registered members in the 38 group ranches spread out in the County. The study sampled twelve group ranches with approximately 5,643 members from which 374 respondents were systematically sampled. Purposive sampling was used to select key informants and participants in the focus group discussions. The study adopted the multi-linear regression model to establish the relationship between variables. The study was guided by three theories: the Tragedy of the Commons Theory, Resource-Based View Theory and the Theory of Sustainable Livelihood. The research procedure began with a pilot study that was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the research instruments. Adjustments and recommendations from the pilot study were incorporated into the research instruments. The study found out that environmental, organizational, management and societal characteristics influenced the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by the group ranches in Samburu County to a great extent. The study established that the past experiences were the most significant factor influencing the choice of sustainability strategies, with a regression coefficient of 0.432. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypotheses and p-values of 0.000 were obtained. The study concludes that environmental, organizational, societal and management factors determine the choice of sustainability strategies adopted by the group ranches in Samburu County. The study recommends consideration and integration of environmental, organizational, societal and management factors when formulating policies affecting the group ranches. The study also recommends change in the policy to allow individual land ownership within a group ranch without necessarily dissolving the group ranches.