Public Benefit Organizations’ Education Interventions and Sustainable Household Poverty Reduction in Mwingi North Sub-County, Kitui County, Kenya

Public Benefit Organizations’ Education Interventions and Sustainable Household Poverty Reduction in Mwingi North Sub-County, Kitui County, Kenya

Faith Nthenya Nyamai, Urbanus Mwinzi Ndolo & Simon Ndwiga
Tharaka University, Kenya
Email: nyamaifaith852@gmail.com

Abstract: Despite ongoing efforts by Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs) to support government initiatives in reducing poverty in Mwingi North Sub-County, Kitui County, indicators reveal a persistent and worsening situation. Illiteracy and low school enrollment rates are high, with poverty prevalence estimated at 41.9%. Although other actors, such as Compassion International Kenya, have helped address these issues, their impact has been limited. This study examined the effect of PBO-led educational initiatives on sustainable household poverty reduction based on Social Capital Theory and the Capability Approach. Using descriptive and correlational research methods, the study focused on a population of 162,218, with an accessible target of 131,883 (81.3% of those in poverty). A sample of 399 respondents was calculated using Slovin’s formula, with simple random sampling used for household selection and purposive sampling for key informants for the PBO personnel. Data collection involved interviews, utilizing questionnaires and key informant guides. The reliability of the instruments was confirmed through expert review and Cronbach’s alpha of 0.967, obtained from 40 respondents in a similar area, which exceeded the benchmark of 0.70. Quantitative data were analyzed with SPSS v.29 and Pearson’s correlation, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results at a 99% confidence level showed that education had a significant positive relationship with poverty reduction (r = 0.051, p < 0.01, β = 0.192). Notably, 40.5% of respondents disagreed that PBO involved parents and communities in educational awareness. The study concludes that increasing community participation is essential for improving school enrollment and supporting long-term socio-economic change.