Food Aid And Its Contextual Influence Among Residents Of Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Food aid and contextual influence

Full text

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International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2022
ISSN: 2394-4404
Food Aid And Its Contextual Influence Among Residents Of
Turkana County, Kenya
Logiron Augustine Tioko
Prof. Jamin Masinde
Dr. Eric Rosana Masese
Moi University, Department of Sociology, Psychology and Anthropology
I. INTRODUCTION
According to the World Food Summit (1996) definite
food insecurity a situation where a household’s members do
not have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life (Aiga & Dhur,
2006). However, this definition does not factor in disparity in
the subjective definition of food insecurity in various
sociocultural and economic settings. Other authors (Oino,
2018) argue that food insecurity does not only denote lack of
food but also includes what people define as food
contextually.
Because of this, the World Food Programme(WFP)
defines most countries within Sub-Saharan Africa as food
insecure, a situation that is compounded by high poverty level
making the residents unable to afford their minimum calorie
intake requirements for a healthy and active life (CSA, 2014).
Most governments and non-state agencies have been involved
in various intervention programs to mitigate the impact of
food insecurity. One of the common interventions is the
provision of food aid to vulnerable groups (FAO.2008;
Kareithi,2014).
The reason for providing food aid is to protect the most
vulnerable communities from adverse impacts of food
insecurity (Radelet, 2006; Pankaj, 2005; UNDP, 2005). In the
distribution of food, the food aid can be generally distributed
to the deserving vulnerable populations or FAO deploys
various commodification strategies to ensure a reduction in
food insecurity. Because of the endemic food insecurity in
Abstract: Food aid has become a major mechanism for stabilizing domestic supplies in food-insecure countries and
targeting food supply to alleviate hunger and food insecurity. Few studies document how food aid has been contextualized
by the residents. This study is therefore aimed to understand food aid and its contextual influence among residents of
Turkana County. This study adopted a case design which was guided by social construction theory. The potential study
participants were identified from households that were beneficiaries of food aid and sampled using snowballing technique
to saturation at 45 households. Participants’ data was collected using in-depth and key-informant interviews as well as
focus group discussions. The recorded information was then transcribed and analyzed thematically. This study reports
that food aid is understood differently in various contexts from the household, village and national level. It can be
concluded that food insecurity and resultant food aid is a major source of household conflict. There is need for enhanced
community participation by humanitarian organizations, strengthened auditing initiatives on humanitarian
organizations, diversification of income sources among residents of As a policy implication, the findings of this study
demonstrate that there is need for legal, legislative and societal reforms on communal understanding of food aid and
adoption of existing coping strategies. The theoretical implication of these study findings is that social construction
theories are useful in the understanding of food insecurity as a social problem. Socially constructed meanings influence
human behavior creating the need to deconstruct the meanings that societies bestow on food aid as an initial stage in
mitigating food insecurity.

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International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2022
ISSN: 2394-4404
most arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, food aid has been
institutionalized. This not only creates over-dependence of the
target community to food aid but also affect their traditional
coping strategies to food insecurity. This is because the
specific households develop a sense that they are not able to
meet immediate food needs without external assistance (Lentz
et al, 2005). This in turn may affect their behavior and social
relationships (Lentz et al., 2005). Furthermore, although food
aid was supposed to mitigate emergency food security
situations, over time it has turned into an international
enterprise whereby international exporters of food and food-
products dump their surplus production to food distributors
such as FAO and World Food Program.
At the national level, food aid is used to support
livelihoods with the aim of assisting assets with the aim of
recovery. However, food aid has not been provided on the
scale and for the duration needed for the livelihood support.
The triggers of food insecurity especially in ASALs have
never been adequately addressed by donors of food aid and
most importantly, food aid alone cannot achieve sustainable
livelihoods or even livelihood recovery. As a consequence,
food aid alone acts as a catalyst for further marginalization of
recipients in terms of food security (The Sphere Project,
2004).This affects how Turkana residents contextualize food
aid.
II. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
This study was undertaken in Turkwel ward, Loima Sub-
County of Turkana County. Turkwel ward was purposively
selected as the case study for Turkana County as it is spatially
the largest in the county and majority of its residents suffer
from food insecurity and benefit from food aid.
This study adopted a case study research design using
Turkwel Ward in Loima Constituency as a case of Turkana
County. This design was adopted because the study was
interested in providing an in-depth understanding of household
definition of food aid and food insecurity as well as
commodification and livelihood coping strategies in the wake
of food insecurity.
This study targeted the heads of household who had
benefitted from food aid from humanitarian organizations and
government agencies. The potential study participants were
identified from households that were beneficiaries of food aid
and sampled using snowballing technique to saturation at 45
households.
In selecting participants for this study, the researcher used
snowball sampling technique. In this case, the researcher made
some contacts with one household in Turkwel that had the
required characteristics and diversities required for this study;
that is, they were households within Turkwel Ward,
beneficiary of food aid. After gaining their consent and
interviewing them, they later helped the researcher in
identifying other participants. They later also led the
researcher to other households which had the required
characteristics. When the researcher achieved a point of
saturation, interviewing households stopped because the
researcher was getting the same information that was repeated
by households. Guest, Bunce and Johnson (2006) propose that
saturation often occurs around 12 participants in homogenous
groups. Consequently, 15 as a minimum for most qualitative
interview studies works very well when the participants are
homogenous. To ensure that you have achieved saturation,
you have to go beyond the point of saturation to make sure
that no new major concepts emerge in the next few interviews
or observations (Latham, 2013). The researcher therefore
managed to interview 45 households (where a point of
saturation was achieved) who accepted to be interviewed
though they claimed that the researcher should not share any
information related to their households, vulnerability and how
they perceive the food aid organizations and government since
they might be locked out of the food aid.
Prior to study commencement, an introductory letter from
Moi University was sent to the National Council of Science
and Technology (NACOSTI) in order to secure a research
permit. Once the permit was issued, the researcher was able to
conduct the study after obtaining permissions from the
governor of Turkana County and County Commissioner. To
collect the data, the researcher relied on qualitative methods
for data collection. Qualitative research is an interpretative
approach, which attempts to gain insight into the specific
meanings and behaviours experienced in a certain social
phenomenon through the subjective experiences of the
participants. Mason, (2002) notes that qualitative research
methods allow the researcher to go into the depth of the
participant’s experience, social processes and discourses. The
researcher therefore relied on qualitative methods. The
researcher was able to collect data which was in-depth and
inclusive. In-depth conversational interviews were adopted to
collect data from households which were selected through
snowball sampling. Data for this study was also collected
through focus group discussion (FGD) and Key Informant
Interview (KII) sessions.
Data from the household interview guides and FGD was
recorded using a tape recorder and field notes. After data
collection, the researcher conducted data cleaning which
involved correcting errors and inaccurate responses,
completing incomplete sentences. This helped in improving
the quality of the responses obtained from the interview
schedules. The interviews were transcribed and translated
from Turkana language to English. The researcher took time
read and reread severally. After getting clarity and
consistency, themes were grouped and attached with
corresponding narratives. The analysis involved coding of
data, dividing the text into smaller units, phrases, sentence and
paragraphs assigning a label to each unit and grouping the
codes into themes, then the researcher analysed the themes
(Creswell and Clark 2011). The researcher thematically
analysed data based on narratives on food aid, coping
mechanisms and social relationships influence food aid.
Concepts from different FGDs and interviews were then
pooled together and integrated into common themes.
Emerging themes were similar across both FGDs and in-depth
interviews. In data analysis there are no universal processes of
data analysis rather it is a rigorous, complex and messy (Jwan
and Ongondo 2011) but a process of transcribing, editing and
reporting the data in the manner that makes it accessible and
easily understood by the readers after analysis.

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International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2022
ISSN: 2394-4404
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Food aid and its contextual influence among residents in
Turkana County is understood at the individual, community
and national level.
A. INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
At the individual level, social relationships have been
affected by food aid. This can be seen inform of the
deteriorating relationships at the house level. This was seen
inform of deteriorating family structure.
a. FAMILY WAY OF LIFE AND RELATING WITH
RELATIVES
Relationship is a way of life among the Turkanas.
Household respondents indicated that the family way of life
and relating well with neighbors has been affected by food aid.
Awoi, 38 years, Female, a household respondent indicated
that The availability of food brings visitors to the household.
When food is not available, people tend to avoid that
household and associate themselves to households that can be
accommodated. Relief food is now days treated as food,
therefore, a household that does not receive food
aid loses visitors and this deteriorates the social relationships.
Ekitela, 42 years, Male a FGD Participant stated that:
We rely on food aid. When food is not available, we lose
friends and relatives because we are regarded as useless and
people who do not have food.
Paul, 50 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that:
When food is not available, many people are not received
in that household. No one wants to identify with a household
that does not have food. This affects how people relate in that
household.
b. DECISION MAKING AND GENDER RELATIONS
Women have taken an active role in providing food at the
household. They are the ones who are providing the food that
is a role usually played by men. This makes men poor decision
makes in the household and affects the relationships.
Aitekang, 32, Female Household respondent explained
that Women are now the ones taking food to the households.
Men who are supposed to provide it have nothing to give. This
has changed men role as head of household. This has made
women household decision makers because they have all the
resources required.
Lokitela, 40, Male, Household respondent agreed and said
that We are no longer the men we use to be. Power has gone
to women who have all the resources. We follow what they say
or else we are denied food from food aid organizations.
Peter, 40, a Key Informant also agreed and indicated that
Women are empowered. They get money from different
avenues. They operate small businesses. Men are seen as
useless and worthless because they have nothing to bring back
home. This therefore makes them vulnerable and depend on
women. This affects the gender relations and decision making
at the household level.
c. ROLES DISINTEGRATION
When the family gets a little maize from Government
relief programmes or well-wishers, they are forced to share it
with their emaciated livestock. The households argued that
they usually look for a means of survival. They send the
young children and the aged to the nearest shopping centre to
beg so that the well-wishers can have mercy of them.
Nakine, 35 years, Female, a household respondent
indicated that
We have defined roles as a community. The roles are now
changing due to drought. Children are now beggars in the
nearest towns. We also beg from neighbors when we do not
have food. This begging has changed the roles of men and
women in the society.
Lokitela, 42 years, Male a FGD Participant agreed that:
Our self-esteem, role definition has changed nowadays
because men and women are not performing the roles which
are traditionally defined. In some families, its either Women
or Children who fend for the families.
James, 50 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that:
Roles are changing every time. You will see women here
being active looking for food for the families. This has
changed the relationships based on the roles at the household
level.
d. MOBILITY OF MEN
Members of Turkana community get cultural prestige and
wealth from the animals they keep. When animals die due to
drought, Men become desperate and now depend on NGOs
and Government for survival. Their self-esteem and pride is
reduced because they do not have animals to take care of.
They resort to moving to urban centres to wait for food aid.
Awoi, 38, Female household insinuated that
The dependence on food aid according to the household
respondents has influenced social relationships at the
household. Our Men have become mobile like animals. They
follow us to distribution centres for food.
Akai, 30, an FGD Participant agreed that
We are all the same. We have become mobile with our
goats. We have no option but move with our animals to look
for food aid. This has affected our social relationships as
households.
James, 42, a key informant agreed with the sentiments
and said that
Men also migrate with their wives to look for food.
Nothing special with mobility because no one can stay at
home waiting for food. They have to look for the nearest
centre so that they can also be targeted for food distribution.
e. HOUSEHOLD GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Turkana get prestige and wealth from the animals they
keep according to the culture. When animals die due to

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International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2022
ISSN: 2394-4404
drought, Men become desperate and now depend on NGOs
and Government for survival.
Asinyen, 40 years, Female, a household respondent
indicated that
Our men do not have work to do for them to feed the
families. They also wait for food aid which we get from the
NGOs. When food is brought to the household, it is not
sometimes of the quantity that will feed everyone. A Priority is
given to children and the aged. This has caused conflicts at
the household level. We scold and molest them leading to
violence.
Ewoi, 42 years, Male a FGD Participant agreed that
We fight for food. Who can stay hungry yet food is
available? Women have become bread winners and this has
caused conflict.
John,48 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that
The household relationships are affected by food aid.
Conflicts are caused by scrambling for the little food and it
graduates to fights at the household. We cannot solve
household cases which we are told they are associated with
food.
f. BEGGING
According to the respondents, begging is one way of
getting meals for the household. This habit of begging affects
how people interact and relate at the household level
According to Nanyait, 34 years, Female, a household
respondent indicated:
We usually go to the neighbors to beg for food when we
do not have. When the family gets a little maize from
Government relief programmes or well-wishers, they are
forced to share it with their neighbors and emaciated
livestock. This begging is not taken lightly. It causes
disharmony when food is not shared to the beggars. This has
caused much conflicts and poor social relationships among
households.
Asinyen, 46 years, a FGD participant argued that:
We usually look for a means of survival. We send the
young children and the aged to the nearest shopping centre to
beg so that the well-wishers can have mercy on them. We
usually target households which show a lighting fire which is
usually an indication that some food is being cooked.
When the beggars are lucky, they can come with
something that is shared by all household members. When
they are not lucky, we sleep hungry and pray that the NGOs
respond to our predicaments at the expected time.
The role of men in the household is now shifted to the kids
who are part of the begging. This causes more conflicts and
affects how household members relate.
Ewoi, 42 years, Male an FGD Participant reiterated that:
When a woman in a household receives food, it shows
that She has become a source of food in that household. Food
aid exacerbates a social action whereby a woman sees herself
as a source of food because she is the one who takes part in
receiving and carrying food to the household.
John, 48 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that:
It is the women who usually receive food during
distribution. Begging is a common phenomenon when you
have nothing. This begging habit according to me creates
enemity.
g. VULNERABILITY CREATED
Food aid has caused vulnerability among the recipients.
They have become dependent on aid such that they cannot
think of the other available option. This has affected the
relationships at the household level.
According to Asibitar, 25 Female household respondent,
My husband has developed a culture of depending on
relief food aid. He goes to the drinking spree when the aid is
not available. When food is cooked, women decide to eat with
kids because the husbands do not bring any food for the
family. It is like the women are taking roles of being
breadwinners. This has affected the social relationships and
has caused conflicts at the households and makes the
household vulnerable.
Lowoi, 40 a FDG respondent indicated that
Our Lives rely on relief food. We have lost power and we
have nothing to do about it. This has made us vulnerable and
dependent on food aid.
John, 40, an NGO Key Informant said that
There is suspicion among community members. They feel
useless because they being suppressed by women. According
to them, they have become vulnerable because of food aid and
reliance on women.
B. COMMUNITY LEVEL
At the community level, social relationships among
community members is affected. This is caused by
dependence on food aid which has acted as a push to reduction
and relations among community members. This was explained
by households as shown below;
a. FOOD AID AND COOPERATION AT THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL
According to the household respondents, food aid
organizations do not aim at working together with the
households in the achievement of sustainable livelihoods.
They do not lay groundwork for social institutions and
therefore leading to the deteriorating relationship between
people hence affecting the social relationships and communal
working relationships.
According to Akai, 43 years, Female, a household
respondent:
Food aid organizations and government singlehandedly
make decisions on behalf of the aid recipients. They choose
what food to provide and who should benefit. They have never
consulted households on preferred foods and changing eating
habits. They actually do not cooperate because they see us as
illiterate and befit food aid. This causes poor social relations.
Ewoi, 42 years, Male a FGD Participant agreed that:
We have our traditional coping mechanisms which can be
capitalized by this organizations so that we can no longer
depend on aid because we will have sustainable projects.

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ISSN: 2394-4404
When herds dwindle, men are increasingly relying on
their wives, many of whom depend on selling local alcohol or
sell charcoal. They buy maize flour and oil with the sale
proceeds. The quantities are very small. This situation has led
to dependency. The dependency of women to men is culturally
not accepted. If the organizations can consult us, we can
provide better solutions through cooperation. The lack of
cooperation and working together is a bottle neck to the
achievement of food insecurity. It also causes poor social
relations because the households feel ignored.
Peter, 50 Years, a key informant from NGO
Households have had to depend on food aid. This causes
dependency syndrome because they always focus on
anticipation of food aid. The beneficiary households depend
on external assistance because they are not consulted on their
needs. This reduces engagement in other livelihood activities
that could enable them to become food self-sufficient. This is
attributed to lack of cooperation and working together with
beneficiaries so that they can provide own solutions which can
be adopted
b. FOOD AID AND ACCOMMODATION AT THE
HOUSEHOLD
Food aid has aided accommodation at the household
levels. It brings about an agreement on something that
households that do not have. This impacts the rate of how
people relate as households and at the community.
Akai, 43 years, Female, a household respondent indicated
that:
The availability of food brings visitors to the household.
When food is not available, people tend to avoid that
household and associate themselves to households that can be
accommodated. Relief food is now days treated as food,
therefore, a household that does not receive food aid loses
visitors and this deteriorates the social relationships.
Ewoi, 42 years, Male an FGD Participant agreed that:
We have friends and relatives when we have food from the
organizations. Food attracts beggars and friends. It has
become a means of building relationships at the community
level. People would wish to associate with households that
receive food. When households have visitors and yet they
cannot get food, the move to the nearest village where they
can be rescued and be fed properly. This food has affected our
networking and how we accommodate our visitors. This in
turn affects social relationships because it has increased and
the same time decreased visitors.
John, 48 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that:
The household’s relationships is affected by food aid. Not
all households receive the aid. Some receive and some do not
receive. The ones that receive aid are under pressure to share
the little they get. When you don’t share, you are branded as a
bad person. This causes enemity and it affects the relationship.
This food aid in away has been an agent of accommodation
because it dictates whether you can be accepted or not based
on your generosity in sharing the aid received at the
household level or it creates conflict and hatred at the
household level and at the community level.
c. FOOD AID AND SOCIAL EXCHANGE AT THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL
According to the households, food aid is the cause of lack
of the existing social exchange at the community level.
Akai, 43 years, Female, a household respondent indicated
that:
I have to sell my goat because just like me it has nothing
to eat; I don't have money to feed my family and only that
goat, which is very thin, is my wealth. Now I have turned it
(pointing at a tethered goat) into money to buy food. We sell
goats as a means of exchange to get money for buying food.
Food aid has also provided food that we sell so that we
get enough money that can be used for buying. The lack of
food for exchange to get money is affecting our lives because
we lack money that will help us in buying items required at the
household.
Ewoi, 42 years, a male FGD Participant agreed that:
The social behavior of people is influenced by the
exchange process. The exchange of food aid is to maximize
benefits in terms of money generated out of sell of food aid to
substitute the household economy by increasing income inform
of money that can be used at the household level. This
increases the level of people interaction and affects the
frequency of interaction.
John,48 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that:
Food aid is used as a form of exchange. Barter trade of
food aid affects how people interact. It affects the social
relationships by increasing interactions and support the
community level.
d. FOOD AID AND COMPETITION AT THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL
According to the respondents, food aid brings about the
contest between beneficiaries, food aid handlers who strive for
a goal that cannot be shared causing psychological stress and
conflict. This competition affects how households interact and
their social relationships.
Akai, 43 years, Female, a household respondent indicated
that We usually compete when we queue for food. No one is
ready to miss food because we usually do not know who will
get it and who will miss in the ration. Do you expect us to wait
for food while seated? No way. This competition leads to
deteriorating social relationships and grudges when people
fight for space.
Ewoi, 42 years, Male a FGD Participant agreed that
People fight and a times lack order during food
distribution. The conflict also happens when the wrong names
are found in the list leading to fights. This affects household
relationships because they are branded as betrayers or people
with self-interest.
John,48 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that
No order during distribution. The targeting sometimes
leads to competition for the small slots available which should
be given to the vulnerable and the most affected. When the
Community realizes that some people were given priority and

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International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2022
ISSN: 2394-4404
others were ignored, it creates a conflict between the
beneficiaries and the food aid organization.
e. EROSION OF CULTURE
It was noted that the respondents listen to news and some
see newspapers. The respondents also said that they usually
see the images of emaciated Turkana children and animals in
the Television news.
Asekon, 43 years, Female, a household respondent
indicated that:
When images are splashed all over media, we are branded
as useless people. We are seen as worthless and always
depending on food aid. Though it is true, this is affecting our
culture and it has caused erosion of our taboos. This is a way
is affecting our social relationships.
Ekile, 42 years, Male a FGD Participant agreed that:
We are not happy when the organizations are using us to
gain support and funding. This is destroying our culture and
social relationships.
John,48 years, Male, a key informant from National
Government indicated that:
The dependency syndrome is affecting the Turkana
Culture. Most of them are now moving to urban centres to
wait for aid. They are no longer focused on pastoralism. This
is eroding the culture and affecting social relationships.
f. IDENTITY AND COMMUNAL GATHERINGS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Food aid has affected community gatherings and
celebrations. It has weaned people of the livelihoods they have
been used to traditionally.
According to Asibitar, 25, Female household respondent,
No communal life is practiced nowadays. Everyone tries
on how to make ends meet individually without bothering how
others survive. This has affected our communal life.
Lokidor, 40 Male FGD participant agreed and said that
We do not work together nowadays. We do not participate
in our traditional dances. No community celebrations these
days. This is affecting social relationships among community
members.
James, 35 Key Informant indicated that
Selfishness has become a habit among households
receiving food aid. They are turning to be individualistic. This
is not a habit among the Turkanas. This food aid has made
people change the way of life and in away affecting social
relationships.
C. NATIONAL LEVEL
Nationally, the social relationships are impacted through
the organizations providing food aid and trickles down to the
beneficiaries
a. LEAD ORGANIZATION RIVALRY
There is usually politics of who is the lead organization to
provide food aid in different places. This conflict causes
ripples among the organizations and it affects the beneficiaries
and the relationships of the organizations.
According to Asibitar, 40 Female respondent,
We hear that the organizations fight for who should bring
food aid to us. This causes infights between them and we are
affected because of the delay. The relationships in the choice
of the lead organization should be taken into consideration so
that we are not affected.
Ewoi, 42, Male FGD Respondent agreed with the
household sentiments and indicated that
We are not bothered about the competition on who should
be the lead organization. Our Problem is who should be
allowed to bring food to us. The rest of the politics should not
bother us at all.
b. TURKANA’S RESIDENTS VOICE IS SUPPRESSED
Household respondents indicated that the organizations
providing food aid do not take into consideration their
demands and needs as expected. They only supply what they
have or get from donors.
Nakine, 35 Female household respondent indicated that
The organizations suppress us. We usually tell them the
types of foods we are comfortable with but they still give us
the white maize as usual.
Naleman, 28, a Female FGD participant indicated that
The organizations see us as illiterate and cannot
contribute to ideas regarding our wellbeing. We are treated
like no people. Our voices are suppressed and useless.
Peter, 35 Male Key Informant agreed with the households
and said that
We are also agents of the organizations. We give food
that comes from the donors. We are not able to dictate to the
donors on food preference by the people. This has affected our
relationships with the beneficiaries
c. VOTING RIGHTS DEPRIVED
Food aid has been used as a bait for vote hunting by the
national and county government. This has affected the
relationship of the beneficiaries and the organizations.
According to Asibitar, 35, Female household respondent
We are used as voting machines and tools. Food is given
to us a s a campaign tool. It is given to us so that we vote for
the leaders who give out food. This has affected our
relationships with our leaders. Our rights as voters and choice
of leaders are deprived.
Echakan, 32, Female FGD respondent indicated that
We only see food during campaigns. It disappears after
the election period. This affects the relationship we have with
our leaders because we identify them with relief food and not
leadership required in delivering services to us.
James, 40 a key informant indicated that
We give food to beneficiaries. The National government
provides food through provincial administration. It is a way of
showing Government presence at the villages. It is sometimes
used by national Government politicians as a way of
endearing to voters to stamp authority and set an indelible
mark for future engagements and voting. The medicine to a
hungry stomach is food. Politicians use food to lure voters.

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d. STEREOTYPES AND LOSS OF IDENTITY
The household respondents indicated that they have lost
identity as beneficiaries of the aid. The suffer from stereotype
because of the images shared in the national televisions.
Asekon 45 years, Female household respondent noted
that:
We listen to news and some see newspapers. We see the
images of emaciated Turkana children and animals in the
Television news. Our images which are paraded to the media
are a big shame especially when we are photographed naked.
Showing photos of us and our animals is an abomination
because it can expose them to curses. This has been a conflict
between us and the organizations. It has affected our
relationships with organizations. It also affects household
relationships because it is shameful when we see photos of the
people we know displayed all over.
Lowoiya, 25 years, Female, an FGD participant agreed
with the sentiments and indicated that
The aid as a support to the situation at hand but not
appropriate if it involves use of their images. Our images are
being splashed allover media in the name of fundraising yet
they do not get the cash from their images. It is against the
Turkana culture to expose images of animals and human
beings that are emaciated. It gives a bad picture of the
Turkanas and it seems Government and NGOs are happily
using it for self- gain. This is affecting our social relationships
and causes conflict in the society.
Peter, 50 Years, a key informant from NGO agreed with
the households
We receive complains from the households on the issue of
images in the media. They tell us that displaying images have
a negative impact on the social relationships among the
households. It has also caused us our lives because we are not
able to take photos during and after food distribution. The
community claims that the taking of pictures is affecting how
they interact because people are branded based on status of
the household that the emaciated members of the household
are seen as a source of livelihood when their images are
displayed.
The results from the households show that there were
different perceptions on the definition of food aid.
Constructivism suggests that every individual constructs the
social world in his mind through experience while, social
constructionism has a social rather than an individual focus
(Young and Colin, 2004). Constructivism therefore is the
process through which people create reality. People create
reality by giving meaning to what they see or observe —
meaning that reality is constructed through people’s
experience through interaction with the world. In this case,
food aid has been socially constructed.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
This study concludes that food aid has changed the family
dynamics, decontextualized and camouflage with different
self-interest hence making people have varied meanings of
food therefore affecting societal social relationships of the
residents of Turkana County. This has also influenced the
understanding of food security as sustainable access to food.
They understand food aid as a savior, promoter of self-
interests, a political vehicle, a demeaning activity, an agent of
mobility, a source of worry and uncertainty, an agent of
conflict, dictatorship, corruption and erosion of culture.
The results indicate further that households of Turkana
County understand food aid in different context such as; Food
aid as a savior, Food aid as promoter of self-interest, Food aid
as a Political vehicle, Food aid as demeaning, Food aid as an
agent of mobility, Food aid as a source of worry and
uncertainty, Food aid as a source changing concept and
perception on food, Food aid as an agent of conflict, Food aid
role in erosion of culture, Food aid as agents of corruption,
Food aid as a business Enterprise, Food aid as a source of
livelihood diversification, Food aid as agents of dictatorship.
V. RECOMMENDATIONS
There is need for enhanced community participation by
humanitarian organizations, strengthened auditing initiatives
on humanitarian organizations, diversification of income
sources among residents of Turkana County as well as the
creation of more sustainable livelihood coping strategies by
both governmental and humanitarian organizations on food
insecurity coping strategies.
As a policy implication, the findings of this study
demonstrate that there is need for legal, legislative and societal
reforms on communal understanding of food aid and adoption
of existing coping strategies.
The theoretical implication of this study’s findings is that
social construction theories are useful in the understanding of
food insecurity as a social problem.
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International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Volume 9 Issue 1, January 2022
ISSN: 2394-4404
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