Livestock production remains the primary source of livelihood in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya’s lower eastern region. Despite sustained investments by governments and non-governmental organizations, the economic returns from livestock development projects have remained modest, and poverty levels persist. This study evaluated the impact of a Livestock Improvement Project (LIP) on the subjective wellbeing of agro-pastoral households in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County. Specifically, the study assessed household subjective wellbeing and examined its contributions to livestock performance, access to agricultural credit, capacity building in livestock management, and participation in collective action. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect household information using a structured questionnaire. A sample of 285 households was selected through stratified random sampling from 1,100 project beneficiaries organized into 45 farmer groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 95% confidence level (p ≤ 0.05). Household subjective wellbeing was relatively high (M = 7.3, SD = 1.2) on a 10-point scale (1=low and 10 high). Regression results indicated that subjective wellbeing was positively and significantly influenced by livestock performance (β = 0.944, p < 0.001), access to agricultural credit (β = 0.748, p < 0.001), capacity building (β = 0.878, p < 0.001), and participation in collective action (β = 0.834, p < 0.001). The study concludes that the LIP had a positive impact on household wellbeing and recommends that future livestock interventions in ASALs integrate capacity building, access to credit, and collective action to enhance sustainable livelihood outcomes. The study contributes to livestock development literature by applying the subjective wellbeing perspective to project impact evaluation.
| Published in | International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 11, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13 |
| Page(s) | 123-142 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Livestock Performance, Agricultural Credit, Capacity Building, Collective Action, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Kenya
Demographic Characteristics | Frequency | Percent |
|---|---|---|
Gender | ||
Male | 254 | 89.1 |
Female | 31 | 10.9 |
Marital Status | ||
Married | 242 | 84.9 |
Widow | 31 | 10.9 |
Single | 12 | 4.2 |
Age Categories (yrs.) | ||
20-30 | 43 | 15.1 |
31-40 | 66 | 23.2 |
41-50 | 80 | 28.1 |
51-60 | 55 | 19.3 |
Above 61 | 41 | 14.4 |
Level of Formal Education | ||
Primary 'Lower" | 6 | 2.1 |
Primary "Upper" | 62 | 21.8 |
Secondary | 117 | 41.1 |
College | 83 | 29.1 |
University Degree | 17 | 6.0 |
Household Number | ||
2.00 | 22 | 7.7 |
3.00 | 56 | 19.6 |
4.00 | 70 | 24.6 |
5.00 | 48 | 16.8 |
6.00 | 28 | 9.8 |
7.00 | 29 | 10.2 |
8.00 | 26 | 9.1 |
9.00 | 6 | 2.1 |
Size in Ha. (Acres) | Frequency | Percent |
|---|---|---|
.404 (1.00) | 68 | 23.9 |
.809 (2.00) | 55 | 19.3 |
1.21 (3.00) | 57 | 20.0 |
1.618 (4.00) | 29 | 10.2 |
2.02 (5.00) | 22 | 7.7 |
2.42 (6.00) | 25 | 8.8 |
2.83 (7.00) | 19 | 6.7 |
3.23 (8.00) | 10 | 3.5 |
Total | 285 | 100.0 |
Numbers (Categories) | Frequency | Percent |
|---|---|---|
Poultry | ||
1-10 | 27 | 9.5 |
11-20 | 73 | 25.6 |
21-30 | 69 | 24.2 |
31-40 | 45 | 15.8 |
41-50 | 30 | 10.5 |
51-60 | 26 | 9.1 |
Above 61 | 15 | 5.3 |
Sheep | ||
0 | 85 | 29.8 |
1-10 | 116 | 40.7 |
11-20 | 56 | 19.6 |
21-30 | 28 | 9.8 |
Goats | ||
1-10 | 85 | 29.8 |
11-20 | 101 | 35.4 |
21-30 | 68 | 23.9 |
41-50 | 31 | 10.9 |
Cattle | ||
1-10 | 231 | 81.1 |
11-20 | 28 | 9.8 |
21-30 | 26 | 9.1 |
Domains | Mean | SD | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard of Living | 7.62 | .118 | 1.0 | 10 |
Access to Good Health | 7.07 | .186 | 1.50 | 10 |
Safety of the Households | 7.34 | .209 | 1.00 | 10 |
Social relations | 7.98 | .217 | 1.00 | 10 |
Spiritual Affiliations | 6.15 | .830 | 1.00 | 10 |
Environment | 6.88 | .371 | 4.75 | 10 |
Emotions and affiliations | 7.93 | .581 | 5.80 | 10 |
Life Achievements | 6.25 | .988 | 4.18 | 10 |
Subjective Wellbeing | 7.28 | .120 | 3.78 | 9.69 |
Categories | Levels | Observed N | Expected N | Residual | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1-2 | Very Low | - | - | - | χ2=168.29 |
2.01-4 | Low | 1 | 71.3 | -70.2 | df=3 |
4.01-6 | Medium | 42 | 71.3 | -29.2 | p=.001 |
6.01-8 | High | 146 | 71.3 | 74.8 | |
8.01-10 | Very High | 96 | 71.3 | 24.8 | |
Total | 285 |
Gender | n | Mean | Mean difference | t | df | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | 254 | 7.2866 | -.00659 | -.029 | 283 | .977 |
Female | 31 | 7.2932 |
Livestock Performance Measure | Level of Measure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Mean | SD | ||
1 | level of increase in animal sales | 2.29 | 1.00 |
2 | level of increase in herd numbers | 2.73 | 1.01 |
3 | level of decrease in herd loss reduction | 2.92 | 1.24 |
4 | level of breed improvement (grade animal) | 3.48 | 1.27 |
5 | level of increase in milk production | 3.51 | 1.07 |
6 | level of increase in animal numbers | 3.49 | 1.22 |
7 | level of increase in multiple births | 2.46 | 1.06 |
8 | Level of increase in herd quality | 2.63 | 1.29 |
Index of livestock performance measures | 2.94 | .822 | |
Unstandardized Coefficients | Standardized Coefficients | t | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | Std. Error | Beta | |||
(Constant) | 4.353 | .066 | 66.437 | .001 | |
Performance measure | 1.030 | .021 | .944 | 48.030 | .001 |
No | Access to Agricultural Credit | Assessed Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
Mean | SD | ||
1 | Amount of credit acquired from LIP (category) | 3.31 | .789 |
2 | Enhanced purchase of breeding animals | 2.63 | 1.30 |
3 | Enhanced water development and access for animals | 2.77 | .666 |
4 | Enhanced acquisition of animal inputs (feed, pasture) | 2.54 | .987 |
5 | Enhanced disease control (vaccines, drugs) | 3.12 | 1.22 |
6 | Building for animal and hay barn | 2.11 | .890 |
Index of Access to Agricultural Credit contribution | 2.70 | 1.09 | |
Unstandardized Coefficients | Standardized Coefficients | t | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | Std. Error | Beta | |||
(Constant) | 5.059 | .127 | 39.861 | .001 | |
Credit | .823 | .043 | .748 | 18.935 | .001 |
Level of Capacity Building | Mean | SD | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Feeds and Feeding (types, supplements, minerals, mixing) | 3.11 | .765 |
2 | Pasture Management (rotation, fodder conservation) | 2.01 | .664 |
3 | Animal Breeding (selection, mating system, | 3.80 | .764 |
4 | Disease Control (vaccines, deworm, tick control) | 2.21 | .741 |
5 | Marketing of Animals | 2.85 | .804 |
6 | Animal Housing and Facilities (types, safety) | 2.08 | .769 |
7 | Dairy Management (milking, feeding, selection) | 2.70 | .695 |
8 | Husbandry Practices (raring young, foot care, | 2.38 | .201 |
9 | Records and Planning | 3.22. | . |
Index of Capacity Building | 2.76 | 1.16 |
Unstandardized Coefficients | Standardized Coefficients | t | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | Std. Error | Beta | |||
(Constant) | 4.770 | .089 | 53.863 | .001 | |
Capacity Building | .909 | .029 | .878 | 30.819 | .001 |
Collective action activities involved in | Level of Participation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Mean | SD | ||
1 | Conservation of fodder | 3.61 | .800 |
2 | Disease control | 2.97 | .674 |
3 | Marketing of animals | 2.01 | .777 |
4 | Animal feeding | 2.88 | .333 |
5 | Water development | 2.14 | .281 |
6 | Breeding Management | 2.66 | .896 |
7 | Exchange of breeding animals | 3.01 | .934 |
8 | Meetings /Training | 2.55 | .567 |
9 | Buildings/housing of animals | 2.79 | .373 |
10 | Payment of group dues | 2.79 | .489 |
11 | Marketing of Milk | 2.01 | .381 |
Collective Action Index | 2.95 | 1.01 | |
Unstandardized Coefficients | Standardized Coefficients | t | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | Std. Error | Beta | |||
(Constant) | 4.359 | .122 | 35.837 | .001 | |
Collective action | .991 | .039 | .834 | 25.444 | .001 |
ASALs | Arid and Semi-Arid Lands |
ASDSP | Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme |
CA | Collective Action |
CAI | Collective Action Initiatives |
FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization |
FFS | Farmer Field Schools |
IBM | International Business Machines |
ILRI | International Livestock Research Institute |
IFAD | International Fund for Agricultural Development |
K-SALES | Kenya Semi-Arid Livestock Enhancement Support project |
LIP | Livestock Improvement Project |
OECD | Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, |
SIDA | Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency |
SPSS | Statistical Package for the Social Sciences |
SWB | Subjective Well-being |
USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
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APA Style
Ndunda, C. N., Ndunda, E. M., Luketero, S. W., Mutinda, M. N. (2026). Impacts of Livestock Improvement Projects on the Subjective Well-Being of Agro-Pastoral Households in Kenya's Lower Eastern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 11(3), 123-142. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13
ACS Style
Ndunda, C. N.; Ndunda, E. M.; Luketero, S. W.; Mutinda, M. N. Impacts of Livestock Improvement Projects on the Subjective Well-Being of Agro-Pastoral Households in Kenya's Lower Eastern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2026, 11(3), 123-142. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13
AMA Style
Ndunda CN, Ndunda EM, Luketero SW, Mutinda MN. Impacts of Livestock Improvement Projects on the Subjective Well-Being of Agro-Pastoral Households in Kenya's Lower Eastern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2026;11(3):123-142. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13
@article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13,
author = {Caroline Nzisa Ndunda and Elizabeth Mumbi Ndunda and Stephen Wanyonyi Luketero and Mark Ndunda Mutinda},
title = {Impacts of Livestock Improvement Projects on the Subjective Well-Being of Agro-Pastoral Households in Kenya's Lower Eastern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands},
journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {123-142},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20261103.13},
abstract = {Livestock production remains the primary source of livelihood in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya’s lower eastern region. Despite sustained investments by governments and non-governmental organizations, the economic returns from livestock development projects have remained modest, and poverty levels persist. This study evaluated the impact of a Livestock Improvement Project (LIP) on the subjective wellbeing of agro-pastoral households in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County. Specifically, the study assessed household subjective wellbeing and examined its contributions to livestock performance, access to agricultural credit, capacity building in livestock management, and participation in collective action. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect household information using a structured questionnaire. A sample of 285 households was selected through stratified random sampling from 1,100 project beneficiaries organized into 45 farmer groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 95% confidence level (p ≤ 0.05). Household subjective wellbeing was relatively high (M = 7.3, SD = 1.2) on a 10-point scale (1=low and 10 high). Regression results indicated that subjective wellbeing was positively and significantly influenced by livestock performance (β = 0.944, p < 0.001), access to agricultural credit (β = 0.748, p < 0.001), capacity building (β = 0.878, p < 0.001), and participation in collective action (β = 0.834, p < 0.001). The study concludes that the LIP had a positive impact on household wellbeing and recommends that future livestock interventions in ASALs integrate capacity building, access to credit, and collective action to enhance sustainable livelihood outcomes. The study contributes to livestock development literature by applying the subjective wellbeing perspective to project impact evaluation.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Impacts of Livestock Improvement Projects on the Subjective Well-Being of Agro-Pastoral Households in Kenya's Lower Eastern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands AU - Caroline Nzisa Ndunda AU - Elizabeth Mumbi Ndunda AU - Stephen Wanyonyi Luketero AU - Mark Ndunda Mutinda Y1 - 2026/09/02 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13 DO - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13 T2 - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management JF - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management JO - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management SP - 123 EP - 142 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-3061 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20261103.13 AB - Livestock production remains the primary source of livelihood in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya’s lower eastern region. Despite sustained investments by governments and non-governmental organizations, the economic returns from livestock development projects have remained modest, and poverty levels persist. This study evaluated the impact of a Livestock Improvement Project (LIP) on the subjective wellbeing of agro-pastoral households in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County. Specifically, the study assessed household subjective wellbeing and examined its contributions to livestock performance, access to agricultural credit, capacity building in livestock management, and participation in collective action. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect household information using a structured questionnaire. A sample of 285 households was selected through stratified random sampling from 1,100 project beneficiaries organized into 45 farmer groups. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 95% confidence level (p ≤ 0.05). Household subjective wellbeing was relatively high (M = 7.3, SD = 1.2) on a 10-point scale (1=low and 10 high). Regression results indicated that subjective wellbeing was positively and significantly influenced by livestock performance (β = 0.944, p < 0.001), access to agricultural credit (β = 0.748, p < 0.001), capacity building (β = 0.878, p < 0.001), and participation in collective action (β = 0.834, p < 0.001). The study concludes that the LIP had a positive impact on household wellbeing and recommends that future livestock interventions in ASALs integrate capacity building, access to credit, and collective action to enhance sustainable livelihood outcomes. The study contributes to livestock development literature by applying the subjective wellbeing perspective to project impact evaluation. VL - 11 IS - 3 ER -