Asset Endowment and Opportunities for Alternative Household Livelihoods for Il Ng'wesi Group Ranch residents in Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

The people in Il Ng'wesi are experiencing changes in their livelihoods, even though livestock still plays an important role in the way they derive their income. Asset endowment and opportunities for alternative household livelihoods among the residents of Il Ng'wesi group ranch is not evident. A trend is emerging where household have been trying to have at least an extra revenue source due to the pressures that population explosions are exerting on the natural resources such as water, land and pastures. The study aimed at characterising resources endowment, and identifies the alternative sources of income that are available to the residents of Il Ng'wesi group ranch residents. Primary data was collected using a structured interview schedule to contact a total of 110 respondents through the employment of simple random sampling method in a Single Household Survey (SHS).  Secondary data was collected from the relevant authorities in the study area. Results showed  that residents engaged in crop production, trading and off-farm employment, livestock and product sale, poultry production, bee-keeping, receives remittance, and have been group members respectively. Therefore, the need for the government to effectively play the role of protecting the poor from sliding into even deeper levels of poverty cannot be overemphasized. This is due to the fact that, mostly those who engage in other higher-return activities than livestock are the wealthy and hence, the poor risk being caught up in a vicious circle of poverty.