Livelihood Copying Strategies at Household Level in the Context of the Declining Sugar Industry in Western Kenya

The sugar industry, once a critical economic backbone in the 1980s through the early 2000s, significantly shaped livelihoods and gender roles at the household level in Western Kenya. However, the industry's sharp decline has disrupted local economies, altered household dynamics, and compelled families to adopt diverse livelihood coping strategies. This study aimed to evaluate these emerging coping mechanisms in response to the economic downturn caused by the collapse of the sugar sector. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and the Social Role Theory of Sex Differences and Similarities (Eagly & Wood, 2012), the research employed a phenomenological design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, observations, and field notes across 36 purposively selected households in the sugar belt zones of Mumias, Nzoia, West Kenya, and Busia. Findings revealed that households have adopted a range of livelihood coping strategies to navigate the socio-economic instability. These include table banking, engagement in microenterprise and income-generating activities, participation in community and social network groups, uptake of leadership roles in local initiatives, casual labor, and—among certain segments—investment in rental properties and business premises. Additionally, coping responses such as extra-marital relationships, alcoholism, and behavioral changes were noted as expressions of stress and shifting social norms. The study concludes that the decline of the sugar industry has undermined traditional household economic structures, leading to a reconfiguration of income sources and coping strategies. It recommends that policy frameworks on rural livelihoods and poverty reduction allocate more resources to support diversified economic activities, microfinance training, and community-based human capital development, especially targeting women, to enhance household resilience and wellbeing.