Correlates and Modelling of Households Graduation from the Hunger Safety Net Programme in Marsabit County, Kenya
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Date
2025-12
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Poverty and food insecurity remain high in Marsabit County, Kenya, despite the implementation of social protection interventions such as the Hunger Safety Net Programme. Moreover, there is limited empirical evidence on household graduation, which is a critical component of effective social protection. Therefore, this study focused on assessing the correlates and modelling of households graduation from the Hunger Safety Net Programme in Marsabit County, Kenya. Key independent variables examined included household-level characteristics, Hunger Safety Net Programme support mechanisms, community-level factors, and adaptive coping mechanisms. The dependent variable was households graduation from the Hunger Safety Net Programme. The study was guided by social protection theory, social capital theory, and the theory of change. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from 334 primary respondents within their households, five key informants, three focus group discussions, and five respondents who shared the most significant stories. SPSS version 25 and STATA version 16 were used to compute quantitative statistics, while qualitative data were analysed in narratives. The findings revealed that household-level characteristics had a statistically significant correlation with households graduation. Simple linear regression analysis indicated that cash transfer amount, adequacy of cash transfer, and duration of support had a statistically significant association with households graduation. Community associations, community participation, community trust, and community leadership were also found to have a statistically significant correlation with households graduation. The study also found that households relied on indigenous agro-pastoral practices, livelihood diversification, financial credits, food coping mechanisms, and social insurance systems within their communities as adaptive coping mechanisms. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between adaptive coping mechanisms and households graduation. Overall, the majority of the households that had graduated from the Hunger Safety Net Programme were still food insecure and were likely to fall back and require social safety net support. The study recommends that the Hunger Safety Net Programme provide the graduated households with capacity-building interventions such as seed capital, skills training, financial literacy, community networking, and linkages. Community participation in selecting households to graduate should also be encouraged to cultivate a sense of ownership. Finally, the Hunger Safety Net Programme and other social safety nets of a similar nature should consider adopting the household graduation model developed in this study for sustainable graduation.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology of Kenyatta University. December 2025
Supervisor
Daniel Muia,
Henry Rono,
De Wet Schutte