INFORMAL CROSS-BORDER TRADE AND FOOD SECURITY IN BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA

This study examined the link between informal cross-border trade (ICBT) and food security in Busia County, Kenya. It was driven by the significant contribution informal food trade makes to commodity movement, household income development and access to food in border communities. The study used a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. The target group comprised about 2400 informal food traders, and the study selected 270 respondents using stratified random sampling and simple random sampling. The study used structured questionnaires and field observations to collect data, which were then analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's product-moment correlation. Responses showed that respondents saw ICBT as playing an important role in household food security, especially by increasing food access, avoiding "food poverty" situations, ensuring "food never ran out," and helping keep commodity prices stable. Pearson's correlation showed a positive relationship between ICBT and food security (r = 0.682, p<0.01). The study advocates considering informal cross-border trade as a significant element of the livelihood system and food security in Busia County. It recommends greater policy visibility for informal trade, improved border infrastructure, streamlined trading processes, better financial inclusion and stronger partnership between Kenya and Uganda in moving food commodities.