Browsing by Author "Mireri, Caleb"

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    Assessment of land use/land covers changes linked to oil and gas exploration: Developments under changing climatic conditions in Lokichar Basin, Turkana County
    (Laboratory of Land Use Mobility and Environment, 2020) Kariuki, David Mugendi; Mireri, Caleb; Kibwage, Jacob; Oyoo, Daniel
    Understanding land use/land cover changes(LU/LC) linked to oil and gas exploration under changing climatic conditions in South Lokichar Basin is crucial.This knowledge will inform policy makers on appropriate sustainable vegetation cover management strategies for the sake of pastrolism practiced in the area.The LU/LC changes were assessed using multi-spatial and multi-temporal remotely sensed imageries acquired through Landsat 5TM and Landsat 8OLI/TIRS by use of ArcGIS.The study assessed medium resolution spatial imageries acquired for the area in both rainy and dry seasons,before oil and gas exploration developments begun in South Lokichar Basin between 2006-2011 and after commencement between 2012-2017.The study established that the average area in hectares under vegetation cover had declined since oil and gas exploration developments begun.A one sample t-test statistics indicated that the area under forest,shrubland and grassland cover had significantly reduced at 90% confidence interval with a p-value of 0.072,0.074 and 0.061 respectively.The study established a decline in NDVI from 1 to 0.433 for the rainy season and 0.411 to 0.122 for the dry season between 2006 and 2017 with a p-value of 0.009 <0.05 on paired t-test implying a significant change on vegetation cover.Sustainable management of vegetation cover is important to safeguard livestock forage.
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    Disparities in Access to Public Open Spaces for Children in Nairobi City, Kenya
    (Public Administration and Governance Research Journal, 2025) Okubo, Everlyne Amile; Mireri, Caleb; Aloyo, Paul
    Public open spaces are essential for children’s health, learning, and social interaction, yet their provision and quality remain uneven in rapidly urbanising cities. This study examines disparities in the availability, safety, and usability of public open spaces for children in Nairobi, Kenya. The study sampled three Nairobi neighbourhoods to represent different socioeconomic contexts: high-income (Loresho), middle-income (Nairobi West), and low-income (Kibera). A mixed-methods approach included surveys, FGDs, KIIs, field observations, and spatial analysis, engaging 417 respondents (198 children, 61 parents, 158 other open space users). Purposive sampling identified key institutions based on their relevance, including Nairobi City departments (Talents, Skills Development and Care; Green Nairobi; Built Environment and Urban Planning), sports subcounty officers, ward managers and local user groups. Results show that all three areas fall far below the World Health Organization benchmark of 9 m² of open space per capita. Provision is lowest in Kibera and Nairobi West, where population density, poverty, poor infrastructure, and weak enforcement of planning laws limit access. Safety risks include overcrowding, poor lighting, lack of fencing, proximity to traffic, and encroachment of informal activities. Usability is further reduced by poor maintenance, competition from organised groups, and the exclusion of children from available facilities. In Loresho neighbourhood, private amenities compensate for the limited public open spaces but do not eliminate exclusion. These disparities constrain physical activity and social development, particularly for children in the low-income areas, and highlight gaps in urban policy implementation. The paper calls for stronger planning, investment, and management to create equitable, safe, and inclusive open spaces, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11.7 and Kenya’s Vision 2030.
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    Environmental awareness and competence in amelioration of the architectural design studios in Kenya.
    (SABS Journal of Environment, Space and Society, 2026-01) Kebenei,Judy; Karanja,Dennis; El-Naggar, Rehab; Mireri, Caleb
    The paper examinedenvironmental psychology as a field that is focused on interactions between humanbeingsand their environments. Itemphasizedhow people modify their surroundings and how those surroundings influence behaviour. The paperhighlightedthe importance of environmental awareness in developing the competence needed to address human-environment challenges in designed spaces. Using case studies of architectural design studios at the University of Nairobi (UON), Technical University of Kenya (TUK), and Jomo KenyattaUniversity of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the study identified mismatches between user needs and design solutions that were provided by built-environment professionals. The paper establishedpatterns of userbehaviour in these design studios based on spatial survey, participant observation andobservation of physical traces. The data revealed several indicators that guided the interaction of space and the users. These included space, staffing and object inadequacies, and use of the environment for prescribed activities. Also tagged wereflawed designof space and objects in space, space modification and manipulation, and space abandonment. Spaceand object abuse as well asbehaviour modification & afforded behaviourswere also identified as critical indicators.On the basis of thesefindingsthestudy developed an appropriateframework for the application of data on environmental psychology. Such applications would in effect guide the amelioration ofthe functionality ofarchitectural designspaces(studios) and the built environment at large
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    Governance And Functionality of Children’s Public Open Spaces in Nairobi City
    (International Academic Journal of Arts and Humanities, 2025-06) Okubo, Everlyne Amile; Mireri, Caleb; Aloyo, Paul
    Public open spaces (POS) are important for children’s physical, social, and cognitive development. In rapidly urbanising cities such as Nairobi, access to safe and functional open spaces is uneven among neighbourhoods. This study examines how governance influences the availability, safety, and usability of public open spaces for children, using political ecology theory to explain disparities across neighbourhoods. The study sampled three neighbourhoods in Nairobi City to represent different socioeconomic contexts: high-income (Lavington), middle-income (Buruburu), and low-income (Huruma). A mixedmethods approach included surveys, FGDs, KIIs, field observations, and spatial analysis, engaging 444 respondents (208 children, 70 parents, 166 other open space users). Purposive sampling was used to sampled key institutions based on their relevance, including Nairobi City departments (Talents, Skills Development and Care; Green Nairobi; Built Environment and Urban Planning), sports subcounty officers, ward managers and local user groups. The findings of this study show that functionality of POS depends more on governance and financing than on the presence of physical infrastructure. In Huruma informal settlement and Buruburu neighbourhood, informal volunteer-based governance, irregular funding, lack of recurrent budgets, and absence of structured participation result in unsafe, poorly maintained, and unattractive spaces. Children reported broken play equipment, lack of supervision, and exclusion from decision-making. Parents cited safety risks as a major reason for discouraging unsupervised play. In contrast, Jaffrey Sports Club in Lavington, managed by a trained team with sustained financing and structured user engagement, provided safe, clean, and engaging environments. The findings of this study demonstrate that unequal governance and resource allocation produce disparities in children’s public open spaces. Without reforms to funding and participatory planning, these disparities will worsen, increasing the likelihood of obesity among children and limiting progress toward SDG 11.7 and equitable urban development