PhD thesis Title Page Final _Richard Juma - Victoria University ...

a vehicle could bring to a rural part of Kenya, and instead added the
interactive element of begging for rides and favours. 63
The core questions centred on the vulnerability context and the social
economic status of the study areas, the impact of the 2005-2006 droughts
at both the household and community level, assets, and local people’s
livelihood strategies and capabilities. The questions also aimed at eliciting
data on how the insurance systems of reciprocity and symbiosis worked
during the 2005-2006 drought and famine period. Further information was
sought on environmental perception, cultural practices associated with
drought and famine, and the role of the high priest or diviner (Emuron) in
rain making practices to avert droughts and famine. These questions
finally helped to generate the data needed for the subsequent analysis of
human response to drought and famine among the faminished Turkana
nomads.
3.8 Reliability of household interview data.
As I proceed to analyze my data using survey sources, two main
limitations emerged: First, the sample size was not big enough. However,
as already noted above, it was necessary to have a small sample to
interview in-depth rather than a large one which could not be handled
profitably. Furthermore, this data limitation was compensated for by the
fact that there were several other supplementary data sources to which I
had access to check my findings.
The second limitation with the survey had to do with the interview
environment. I got the impression that once people start depending on
famine relief, their attitude towards life and the people around them
63 However, visitors are always perceived by many Turkana pastoralists as ones who have
come to help and give, and their indigenous begging from each other is easily extended to
visitors. I did not give away much at the beginning to avoid elevating expectations and
increasing a crowd at my doorstep. My practice was to give tobacco to those who
requested it, at the end of each interview.
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