Abstract:
Chickens are the most popular poultry worldwide. About 23.7 billion chickens
globally in 2018 were reared mainly for their eggs and meat products.
Indigenous chickens in Kenya constitute about 70% of the poultry population.
Their role in rural livelihoods is widely understood in terms of provisioning for
nutrition and household income. This study aimed to investigate, through a
community-based participatory process, the latent roles of indigenous chicken
(IC) in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in rural areas of Kericho County,
Kenya. This study adopted a Grounded Theory Approach and a Communitybased Participatory action research design. Six sites in three out of six subcounties were selected for the study based on their agroecological zones and
administrative locations. Data were collected through focus group discussions
and interviews. Community-based participatory action research tools; focus
groups, resource mapping, role plays, and community workshops, were used to
encourage participation and knowledge sharing. Data were collected through
note-taking and group presentations. The data were analyzed using the grounded
theory constant comparative method. Analysis revealed that the higher order
concepts and theories that could explain the latent roles of indigenous chickens
were1insurance against shocks, 2marketness; sales for income,
3instrumentalism; as an instrument for personal motivations, 4ecological
functions and5immanent roles; to utilize existing resources and capabilities. It
has roles as a socio-economic 6ladder-of-change, contributes to 7household
functionalism by engaging youth and women and household 8dietary needs, and
social roles in 9interpersonal connectedness. In conclusion, indigenous chickens
had roles in the economy, ecology, socio-culture and food supplies. This
understanding has implications in formulating strategies by development agents,
for sustainable IC production. Further research in different contexts to build on
the in-depth understanding of the IC roles is recommended.
