Influence of settlement scheme programmes on the socio-economic livelihoods of lake Kenyatta I settlement scheme settlers, Lamu county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the influences of settlement scheme programmes on the socio-economic livelihoods of the settlers in Lake Kenyatta I settlement scheme, Lamu County. The study specifically sought to establish the influence of land title deeds as collateral, land access rights for agriculture influences settler’s household income in Lake Kenyatta I Settlement Scheme and infrastructure development on settler’s socio-economic livelihoods in Lake Kenyatta I settlement scheme. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. This study targeted 3,500 household heads of Lake Kenyatta I settlers, 10 community/county leaders and 8 religious leaders. This added up to a target population of 3,518 respondents.Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample of 342 from the household heads. For the community/county leaders and religious leaders, the study took a census approach. This added up to a sample size of 360 respondents. The study employed the use of questionnaires to collect primary data. The questionnaire was administered through drop and pick-later method to the sampled population. Quantitative method involved descriptive analysis such as absolute and relative (percentages) frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion (mean and standard deviation respectively). Content analysis was employed for the qualitative data and then presented in prose. The study also conducted a Pearson’s correlation and Correlation analysis to establish the relationship between the variables. Frequency tables were used to present the data for easy comparison. The study found out that household heads, community/county leaders and religious leaders interviewed had title deeds and that they were affected positively by owning a title deed. The findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between socio-economic livelihood and infrastructure development, land use rights for agriculture and use of land titles as collateral of magnitude 0.638, 0.764 and 0.622 respectively. The study concludes that land use rights for agriculture has the highest effect on socio-economic livelihood, followed by infrastructure development while use of land titles as collateral had the lowest effect on the socio-economic livelihood of Lake Kenyatta settlement scheme beneficiaries, Lamu County, Kenya. The study recommends that all people living within the settlement should be awarded title deeds for lands that they own. This will ensure that they enjoy the benefits of having a title deed to improve their socio-economic livelihoods.