Abstract:
This paper examined intra-household resource allocation decisions, pow‘ relations and its influence on household food expenditure shares in select rural areas of Kenya, The study directly tests whether the socio-economic factors and power effects as measured by ownership of assets ha significant influence on expenditure shares on food. Data from Baring Nakuru and Vihiga districts collected by the Kenya integrated household budget survey 2005/2006 was used for the analysis. A household decision making model was used. lt focused on bargaining between spouses, the earning power of women, education, asset ownership and their subsequent influence on food consumption decisions. The OLS results of the model o per capita cash expenditure is consistent with conventional Engel’s curve findings, where a marginal increase in permanent income results in marginal decrease in the share of food expenditures. However, this stud found that differential in education levels was more important than earnings Households where women have much bargaining power, have high expenditures on food. This suggests that financial management may be valuable complement to education in efforts to improve nutrition in poo rural communities. Employment status of other family members an investment allocation decisions towards crop and livestock have a positive influence on food expenditure shares. This demonstrates the potential fo more direct efforts to model and measure intra~household decisions in bid t improve household livelihoods
