The influence of community based organizations (CBOs) activities on economic empowerment of rural communities - a case of selected CBOs in Bahati division, Nakuru county.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of CBOs particular influence on the economic empowerment of the rural community of Bahati location in Bahati division in Nakuru county of Kenya. The empirical study on CBOs activities influence on community economic empowerment was a gap being addressed. The problem was to establish whether CBOs' activities had influence on economic empowerment of the target population. The study sought to establish whether CBOs activities influenced the economic empowerment of the community by answering question;-. "Do the CBOs activities influence the economic empowerment of Bahati rural community? The specific objectives was to establish the CBOs activities, approaches the CBOs uses, the level of CBOs partnership, the level of community participation in CBOs work and establishing relationships between CBOs activities and economic empowerment. In order to ensure the study depicts logic, the variables under examination were operationalised on the basis of the four objectives in relation to dependent variable. The study involved seventy nine (79) respondents. This included 75 households stratified on the basis of age, education level and sex. To enhance objectivity six representative respondents were randomly derived from three CBOs management team and six from each of the three development partners selected randomly. The study targeted 1500 households, 36 people in the three CBOs management team and 45 employees of development partners in Bahati division in Nakuru County. The research sample involved 79 respondents. Seventy-five (75) from households, two (2) people in CBOs management team and two (2) from the three developments agency partners randomly selected. Descriptive survey design was adopted utilizing both numerical and non numerical primary and secondary data. Background information to study was achieved through literature review of previous studies, development reports, conferences presentation and text books. Data was collected through a questionnaire, observation, focused group discussion and content analysis. The statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used in data analysis and Measures of central tendency and variability were analyzed. The information has been presented in text, tables and figures. The findings of this study established that there exists a relationship between CBOs activities and economic empowerment; in the rural livelihoods. The study recommends that level of partnership and methods of project selection should be focused as one of the factors for analysis when selecting CBOs activity; if economic empowerment is a priority.