DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2017.v05i04.008

Pages: 323-331

One of the most important paradigm shifts in poverty interventions has been a renewed interest in social networks as an important variable in sustainable rural economic development. There are very few studies that have focused on the role of social network or other forms of social capital on rural income diversification and rural poverty in rural areas of Kenya. The objective of this study was to establish role of social networks in poverty alleviation in Nyando District. A Cross-sectional research design involving use of both systematic random sampling and purposive sampling was adopted. Primary data was obtained using structured questionnaires to interview a minimum of 250 household heads from two divisions of Nyando district. The results indicated that 61.6% of the household heads belonged to social networks.