Self-Help Groups as Alternative Vehicles for Sustainable Development Among Households in Kisumu East Sub-County, Kenya

Self-help groups (SHGs) generate social and economic interventions for sustenance of livelihoods by harnessing group power to solve social-economic dilemmas. Like other development initiatives, groups provide a reachable alternative for millions suffering relative economic backwardness and deprivation in rural and informal settlements. Government and private support in Kenya has seen tremendous increase in number of SHGs over the past decade. Despite growing investments in group-based livelihoods promotion, little consensus on sustainable impact of their programs on development exist. This study sought to assess SHGs as an alternative vehicle for sustainable development among households in Kisumu East sub-county, Kenya. Specific study objectives were; to establish the main economic activities of SHGs and to assess the types of benefits accrued from the economic activities of SHGs in Kisumu East sub-county. Collective theory guided the study that applied descriptive research design to gather qualitative and quantitative data. A sample of 105 respondents drawn from a target population of 320 in 15 groups with over 10 years of operation participated. Noticeable completed projects and revenues in economic empowerment processes formed inclusion criterion. Questionnaires and focus group discussions got used to gather data for cleaning, coding and analysis for presentation in percentages, frequencies, tables, and narratives. The findings indicated that SHGs in Kisumu East sub-county devised various income generating activities for income improvement and sustained economic development. Further indicated women in groups, improved their status economically by economic activity(ies). SHGs enabled members to economic benefits like access to credit for businesses. It is recommended for policies enactment enhancing SHGs activities as economic empowerment vehicles in Kisumu East sub-county. SHGs Capacity building process should train and equip members for generation of regular sustainable income. Programs by non-governmental organization and civic advocacy actors towards ensuring SHGs have better capacities be collaboratively undertaken for greater benefits