Abstract:
Kipsigis is one of the eight communities among the Kalenjin tribe. Traditional family planning is
embedded within the Kalenjin culture and has been well-known for its effectiveness. This study sought
to evaluate the efficacy of traditional family planning practices among the Kipsigis Community in
Kericho County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to establish existing sources of indigenous
knowledge on family planning practices, establish the methods of disseminating indigenous knowledge
on family planning practices, explore the benefits and demerits of traditional family planning
practices, establish the level of adoption of Western methods of family planning among the Kipsigis
Community and assess the perception of elders on the differential efficacy between the traditional
family planning practices among the Kipsigis. The study used a multi-site case design that was both
quantitative and qualitative to facilitate in-depth investigation and comparison of the themes from
three sub-counties. The sub-counties were selected due to their rich traditions and ways of living.
Three village elders were interviewed in each sub-county, and questionnaires were administered to
90 knowledgeable older women and men equally distributed between the three sub-counties. These
participants were identified using snowballing. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis,
while quantitative data were analysed using Excel. The study revealed that the community are
exposed to traditional family planning methods from many sources. As a result, the belief in the
efficacy of traditional family planning methods is stronger than that of modern approaches.
