Factors Influencing Transient Poverty Among Maasai Pastoralists

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence transient poverty among pastoralists’ households in semi-arid areas of Simanjiro District. Specifically the study focused on the pastoralists’ household income areas that is characterised by seasonal fluctuations (transient poverty) which force pastoralists to engage in many activities like non-farm income sources. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select the representative sample. Data collection methods comprised Maasai household surveys focus group discussion (FGDs) key informants’ interviews and field observation influenced by the Geographical Theory. A total of 100 Maasai pastoralist household-heads were directly administered with questionnaires. In addition three FGDs and ten key informants’ interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 computer software to summarize the facts. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in presenting factors that influence transient poverty among pastoralists’ households.