The Importance of Community Action in Securing Basic Needs in Post-Conflict Kenya

Background and Purpose:

Kenya ranks 145^th out of 187 in the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2013). Approximately 30% of the population is food insecure, and 38% lack access to clean drinking water (WHO, 2013; WaterAid, 2013). This situation exists, despite Kenya’s commitment to the right to ‘clean water’ and ‘adequate food’ as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948). Research shows that a high level of corruption in the government promotes food insecurity and water scarcity (Sen, 1981). Studies by Kent, (2005), Ife (2008), Sen & Dreze (1991) highlighted the importance of collective action as a mitigating factor of ineffective and corrupt governance. In the aftermath of the 2011 protests in Kenya, our study examines the relationship between perceived levels of corruption in the government with food and water insecurity; and examines the mediating role of community action as a way for citizens to actively secure their entitlements to food and water.

Methods:

The current study uses the Afro-barometer data collected in Kenya during 2011. A mediation model using a binary outcome and bootstrapping techniques was estimated using Stata 13. The sample consisted of n= 2,399 respondents. We examined the influence of perceived corruption at the federal level on individual food and water insecurity, and the mediating impact of engaging in community action on this relationship. Perceived corruption was measured using a combined score of four items assessing corruption in the:  “office of the president” “office of the prime minister” “parliament” and “judges and magistrate”. Community action was measured by the combined score of two variables which assessed “participation in a community meeting” and “joining others to raise an issue”. Lastly, food and water insecurity were measured as binary indicators each derived from a single item “How often have you gone without food?” and “How often have you gone without water?”

Results:

Community action fully mediated the relationship between perceived corruption and both food (a₁+b₁= 0.007, 95%CI 0.002; 0.014) and water insecurity (a₁+b₁= 0.007, 95%CI 0.003; 0.014). Engagement in community action decreased food (b₁= -0.0153, p < 0.001) and water (b₁=-0.014, p < 0.001) insecurity. Alternatively, higher perceived levels of federal corruption were associated with greater food (a₁=0.159, p = 0.042) and water (a₁= -0.046, p =0.549) insecurity. Interestingly, higher perceived levels of federal corruption were negatively associated with community action (c₁= -0.0154, p = 0.001) suggesting that when higher levels of corruption are perceived individual engage less in their communities. These relationships held while controlling for age, gender, and urban versus rural location.

Conclusion and Implications:

This study contributes significantly to the lack of knowledge regarding the buffering effect of community action in ameliorating the negative effect of perceived corruption on access to basic needs. Additionally, it implies that community action may be a mechanism by which individuals can access basic needs, such as food and water, when authorities fail in their commitment to guarantee these rights. As such, fostering community action can be an effective attribute of interventions within this population.