There is a need for resettlement programs for natural disasters, development and diplomatic and
conflict-induced population movements. Such resettlement programs are used primarily to
restore people's means of making a living and enhancing the social and economic welfare of the
individuals. Based on the available literature and accurate data, this research paper focuses on the
Kenyan resettlement programs' and their approach to restoring and enhancing the participants'
livelihoods.
Literature Review
Resettlement and Livelihoods Worldwide
Natural disasters and conflicts have occasioned human displacements; sometimes, development
projects call for resettlement programs. The above programmes usually encounter many
challenges that hinder the restoration of livelihoods. That is why resettlement programs should
consider how traditional livelihoods are impacted, how people's social networks are broken, and
the importance of the target population's psychology. Displacement leads to losing homes, land,
and income sources, putting people in economically vulnerable positions and causing poverty.
As for agriculture, fishing and other kinds of trade, rural societies and their exact locations are
often closely connected. Upon exiting these environments, people also relinquish their source of
income, culture, and work society.
As it can be seen, refugees and other displaced people arguably fare worse because of their lack
of social media connections. Friends provide communities with emotional support, information,
and job opportunities. Evidently, displaced people depend on community support to provide for
their needs; hence, they may feel abandoned when they get to resettlement areas. Displacement
produces a psychological impact on the affected persons. Being homeless and being in front of a
future can result in anxiety, depression or PTSD. Evidence shows that physical problems
interfere with the restoration of life and career. These problems are tackled in conjunction with
viable solutions through a well-coordinated strategy in livelihood restoration for resettlement
programs that can work for the short-term and in the long-run development of the recipients.
Challenges and Best Practices
Some challenges found in the literature regarding Kenyan resettlement programmes include
limited revenue for a cheaper cost, lack of citizens' engagement in planning, and lack of more
social services. Strategies that include participation, context-specific training to livelihood
activities, and using CBOs in resource mobilization and addressing social integration agendas are
determinants of success.
Livelihood Restoration and Improvement Strategies
Community Empowerment and Participation
The affected communities should participate in the planning for and the whole resettlement
process. It is effective as compared to other organizational structures because it allows the
engagement of displaced people hence a consideration of their needs and the kind of livelihoods
that would suit their needs hence sustainable solutions. Community leadership is obtained
through training and capacity development in own community.
Vocational Education and Training
Vocational training and education, segregated according to the specificities of the resettlement
market, may benefit individuals' livelihoods. Self-development and augmentation of the training
standards of resettled populations in agriculture and other earning sources has enhanced the
economic situation.
Access to Financial Services
It is clear that credit and financial services are a necessity for people's incomes. The following
are some of the ways to support early-stage and emerging enterprises in the resettlement zones:
Micro finance and the formation of associations of cooperation. There are certain programs,
which help people to manage their money; this means that financial literacy programs are
possible.
Development of Infrastructure
Construction of these tracts for livelihoods such as roads, schools, hospitals as well as markets is
important. This aspect enhances the availability of services and, therefore, reduces the cost of
transacting to increase overall economic activity. Developmental needs in terms of infrastructure
in resettlement programmes should be accorded utmost priority in any given program aimed at
improving the livelihood of the affected persons.
Social Integration and Support Services
Resettled people need social integration for the improvement of their psychological and
economical state. Integration, mental wellbeing, and mediation in reset tling areas enhances
livelihoods among the affected populations. There is a requirement present in counseling and
legal aid to alleviate the resettlement process.
Case Studies from Kenya
1. Mau Forest Evictions
Most of the water catchment areas in Kenya, such as the Mau Forest complex, have been
deforested by human settlement and agriculture. The major reason was to protect the
environment, which the government pursued by evicting thousands of people living in the forest.
The key objectives of resettlement were land and livelihood reparation. The program was
criticized for their remuneration, planning on the program and lack of support. Rejected persons
lost their source of income and social relations that made it difficult for them to recover when
evicted.
2. Post-election violence displacement
Crisis in Kenya 2007/2008 post election violence led to the displacement of more than 600,000.
Among international displaced persons were provided with homes, grant, and food support on
the basis of shelter, land, and livelihood. Credit, vocational training and development of
infrastructures were the major activities carried out by organizations. When it comes to the
economic improvement of resettled families, the most common responses were the acquisition of
plots for the development of local markets and the improvement of agriculture. However, there
were some problems in the program implementation, such as, The last and very significant issue
refers to delay in the compensation of money for personnel and the problem of co-ordination that
caused serious constraints to organization of the program.
3. Standard gauge railway (SGR) Project:
Community relocation was conducted along the SGR which is an enhance infrastructure in the
transportation and economic growth. Other forms of compensation included money
compensation which was given to the victims, provision of other piece of land which replaced
the original one in cases where compensation could not be given and lastly; provision of means
of living for example livestock, farm produce among others during resettlement. This paper also
found that compensation delays and land allocation problems, on the one hand, did not
necessarily negatively affect referred beneficiaries' vocational training or infrastructure
improvements in the resettlement areas, which positively affected their livelihoods. Markets,
schools, hospitals set in the resettlement area contributed to economic productivity.
Data Analysis and Results
Methodology
The findings for this report, were acquired through review of related literature, field surveys, and
interviews with government officials and implementing NGOs, and with the resettled people.
Findings on the impact of the Kenyan resettlement program, more so focusing on the
arrangement of livelihoods restoration and enhancement, were reviewed.
Key Findings
Community Participation: Community participation is core in the achievement of effective
resettlement processes. The case studies show that when refugees and internally displaced people
are involved in the planning and implementation of the operations, the outcomes will always be
good. It involves the public to make sure that their culture, needs, and preferences as well as the
cultural contexts of different affected communities are met.
According to data obtained from the successful Kenyan resettlement programmes, the role of
communities cannot be underestimated. Therefore, in the Mau Forest eviction resettlement,
community planning and decision-making were more acceptable and sustainable than the
random strategies formulated. The sites also translated that since the projects incorporated
knowledge of the communities' traditional practices in agroforestry, such project got acceptance
of the community and the general population.
Vocational Training: Vocational training coupled with education are critical commodity in the
provision of resettlement livelihood emphasis. Being knowledgeable with market skills, resettled
people can attain a higher income and economic steadiness.
The resettled people in Kenya have specifically had an advantage in receiving vocational
training. There are many people who have ventured into business or increased on their
productivity after attaining agriculture, business and trade skills. Such training has educated the
resettled farmers on the improved methods of farming, better seed varieties, as well as profitable
approaches to farming and, therefore, yields and income.
Various training in entrepreneurship has been helpful in restoring people's source of income.
There are separate modules in business management; marketing; and financial literacy that
enable the settled people to identify and capture the economic opportunities. This training assists
them in starting their own businesses, and in growing those businesses, which in turn creates
employment and contributes to the economy. Vocational training programs play the role of
supporting other capacities, such as sponsorships, for the new business to thrive.
Financial Services: Financial services are critical for the success of resettlement, since they will
only get back into business and enhance their living standards. Credit, savings, and insurance
enable and facilitate the economic lives of the resettled people by initiating and developing
enterprises, investing in profitable and income-generating activities, and protecting themselves
against risks.
The following services are required from microfinance and cooperative societies by resettled
populations. In the resettlement areas, and especially in Kenya, micro financing has also assisted
the growth of micro prop businesses. Such institutions offer financial services, including
microcredit among the target population to help them start income-generating ventures since the
institutions have no access to banking services. In simple terms, a resettled person can easily find
a suitable area to set up a microloan for the purpose of buying livestock, farming machinery, or
raw materials for a mini enterprise.
Infrastructure Development: Resettled people require social infrastructure in order to sustain
their lives and live better lives. Transportation networks such as roads, schools, hospitals, and
markets facilitate economic production and service delivery and receipt.
Facilitated transport through better roads and bridges helps transport goods and people thus
reducing transaction costs and market access of resettled people. Motorable roads in the
resettlement areas have enabled the farmers to ferry their produce to the markets, hence
improving their incomes and also reducing wastage due to poor means of transport. Access to
education and health care is also easier with better transport, thus improving the well-being &
productivity of society.
Social Integration: Social integration is an implication that requires social integration if there
must be success in the resettlement programs. The impacts of social cohesion and psychology
support enable the resettled people to feel that they are not alone in the society.
Cohesion activities help resettled communities maintain good relations and linkages with other
persons in society. Self-help groups and cooperatives, which are social organizations, assist in
the integration of people into society. Such organizations provide an opportunity for persons who
have been resettled to exchange experiences and fight new bitter battles aimed at reconstruction
of their lives.
Each resettled person requires the provision of psychological assistance in order to guarantee
them a stable mental and emotional state. Mental health and counseling services support clients
to deal with some of the impact of displacement such as stress and trauma. Studied subjects
which received psychological support in the course of their resettlement, revealed considerably
higher rates of mental health and well-being compared to other Kenyans.
Conclusion
Thus, operational and effective resettlement programs bring back and enhance the quality of
people's living. Different measures have been applied in this country, Kenya, with alarming
effects. HC, employment, banking services, physical environment, and social rehabilitation
enhance the results. It is notable that general analysis and outlook that is rooted in the best
practices and successful case studies will contribute to the advancement of the resettlement
process even in the scenario of the mentioned obstacles.
