SOCIAL CAPITAL AND POVERTY REDUCTION AMONG THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN KENYA

Abstract

Social capital is now gaining prominence among researchers, policy makers and development practitioners as a valuable resource for promoting economic growth, creation of secure neighborhoods and sustainable communities. Studies have shown that communities that are characterized by huge amount of social capital particularly in form of community groups at the grassroots level, have a higher likelihood of realizing improved social development than communities with less amounts of social capital. Using primary data collected in Nakuru County and Uasin Gishu County from a random sample of 400 respondents through interviews and Focus Group Discussions, this paper investigates the contribution of social capital towards poverty reduction among the internally displaced persons in Kenya. The findings show that social capital had a major contribution to poverty reduction in the households that were impoverished by internal displacement. Overall, the results show that social networks and social groups (social capital) act as the primary forms of insurance that vulnerable populations depend on to smooth out the adverse effects of unforeseen exigencies. Hence social connections serve as conduits for assets that are important for improving the household’s well-being. The paper makes a policy suggestion that social capital should be integrated in development policies as an essential component for poverty reduction at both national and county/federal levels.