Effects of Khat Consumption on Consumer-Community Relationships in Kamukunji Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Khat chewing is evidently traced from the sociocultural tradition where the users feel the pleasure through the induced stimulation effects. Apparently, the effects seem to influence the socio-cultural lives of the entire community within which it is practiced (Kennedy, 1987). Khat is traditionally consumed in a social gathering - a habit that is seriously considered in Yemen. Nonetheless, the negative implications of Khat, which negatively affect the lives of the individual users, marriages, schooling and religious institutions and the community relationships as a whole cannot be ignored. Thus the study was guided by the objective of determining the effects of Khat consumption on consumer-community relationships in Kamukunji constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya. Using the Conflict theory, the study was conducted in Kamukunji Constituency of Nairobi County. The Somali community is the dominant tribe in the larger part of the suburb. This study applied exploratory and descriptive survey research designs with a mixed method approach. This study targeted the entire Khat consumers' households and retail traders in Kamukunji constituency. The sample consisted of 335 main consumers who used questionnaires, 5 key informants, 19 FGDs and 70 retailers (used questionnaires) selected through ward-clustering and then snowball sampling. Piloting was conducted in Kibra constituency using 30 consumers' households and 10 retail traders. Validity was examined by aligning the questionnaire with the Conflict Theory and Structural Functionalism theory. Reliability statistic was assessed through obtaining a Cronbach alpha of 0.914. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS - Version 20) was used for both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study applied the three analytical types of Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed through the process of coding where common themes were identified and examined in relation to the context, meaning and circumstances. The study found that it was expected that because the consumer will have good relations with the community, consumption of Khat is considered a social and cultural engagement that is acceptable. It is evident that while the practice is not necessarily sneered upon by the community, Khat consumers are perceived to be failures and the major culprits in poor community relations. However, the end value of consumption derives their perceived value from the entire process of using what is availed in the society.