Determinants of Leadership Legitimacy in Sustainability of the Dairy Goat Project by the Dairy Goat Farmers’ Association in Central and Eastern Provinces of Kenya

Abstract

This study was designed to identify factors that determine leadership legitimacy in the member groups of the Dairy Goat Association of Kenya. The research design was a correlational survey while the target population was 106 member groups of the Dairy Goat Association of Kenya in Eastern and Central provinces. Embu, and Murang’a counties in Eastern and Central provinces respectively, were selected through cluster sampling, while proportional stratified random sampling was used to select two samples of 47 group chairpersons and 251 followers. Structured interview schedules were used to obtain data from the group chairpersons and their followers. Chi-square and contingency coefficient were used to test the validity of the set hypothesis, at µ = 0.05 level of statistical significance. The results indicated that: Contribution to group development; leader competency in dealing with group administrative matters; respect from group members; appreciation leader shows for efforts of other group members; trustworthiness; commitment to group goals and values; leader does not impose his/her ideas on other members, and popularity of leader among group members were significant determinants of leaders’ level of legitimacy at p? 0.01. Therefore, for leadership to be legitimate and sustainable, in Dairy Goat Association of Kenya, it should evolve from the groups.

Keywords: Farmers’ groups, leadership legitimization, project sustainability, participation.