Examining households vulnerability to climate-induced poverty in Elgeyo-Marakwet County of Kenya

This study employed multidimensional econometric approaches to socio-economic and biophysical factors to examine household vulnerability to climate-induced poverty in rural areas of Elgeyo-Marakwet County in Kenya using primary data obtained from 370 households in March 2023. Firstly, the integrated vulnerability approach (IVA) was used to identify socioeconomic and environmental factors for examining household vulnerability to climate-induced poverty. The vulnerability index approach (VIA) was used to assign weights to socioeconomic and biophysical factors based on their characteristics. The predict component in PCA was used to develop household vulnerability indices that classify households based on their vulnerabilities to climate-induced poverty. The study established that 24.6%, 43.5%, and 31.9% of households in rural areas of Elgeyo-Marakwet County are highly, moderately, and less vulnerable respectively to climate-induced poverty. In Highlands, 35.4%, 52.8%, and 11.8% of households are highly, moderately, and less vulnerable respectively to climate-induced poverty. In the Middlelands, 22.6%, 43.6%, and 33.8% of households are highly, moderately, and less vulnerable respectively to climate-induced poverty. In Lowlands, 15.1%, 33.6%, and 52.3% of households are highly, moderately, and less vulnerable respectively to climate-induced poverty. Results of ordered logistic regression established that the age of household head, household size, marital status, access to early warning information, increase in drought, and change in temperature influence household vulnerability to climate-induced poverty. The study suggests implementing policies that address socio-economic and biophysical factors that contribute to household vulnerability to climate-induced poverty. Addressing these factors is likely to enhance household resilience to poverty induced by climate change.