| dc.description.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. | en_US |
