Motivation for Collective Action: a Case Study of western Kenya

Collective action is often pursued as a strategy to access resources critical to the livelihoods of vulnerable families. In rural areas of developing countries constraints are present in daily household activities, as well as when coping with shock event like droughts, floods, or disease. Constraints exist in production, as well as in coping with shock events. This study addresses the motivations that drive participation in groups in rural Kenya. It specifically examines if men and women engage in collective action for different reasons, and whether they mobilize over different resources. In the case of groups externally initiated, it examines if ethnicity and gender stereotypes privilege particular groups over others. Finally, it examines why individuals do not participate. The study was conducted in a Luo and a Kipsigis village in the western region of Kenya. The analysis is conducted as three levels: community, group and household/individual. Gender and age, ethnicity, and participation in groups were criteria for the design of case studies. Focus group discussions elicited information on which groups are available for people to join, who participates in the groups, how long these groups have been in existence, and the objectives of the groups. Household/individual case studies analyzed the process of participation. Finally, to compare participation in these villages, a random sample of 120 households was conducted. Household interviews provided specific detailed information pertaining t