Browsing by Author "Wangai, Peter"

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    Comparative Analysis of Household Residential Preferences Across Neighbourhood Densities in Nairobi, Kenya
    (EANSO, 2024-11) Mugah, Faith; Wangai, Peter
    Rapid urban growth in Nairobi city outstrips demand and provision of adequate housing. The demand for housing in an area is dependent on the satisfaction of the resident’s needs and wants. This paper examines the residential preferences of residents in three residential estates, low, medium, and high densities in Nairobi City, Kenya. Data was collected by use of questionnaires that were administered to 267 households. Primary data was collected for this study. The data collected was analysed using factor analysis and ordinal regression. Data was presented in the form of tables. The results indicate residential preferences among high, medium and low-density areas vary. The most preferred factors for low-density residents were safety and security, open spaces and facilities; while the residents in high-density areas preferred housing diversity, local employment and close proximity to the workplace. The least preferred factor for low-density residents was close proximity to work place since they own cars hence they are more willing to commute while high-density residents prioritize proximity to work to minimize transportation costs. Residential preferences varied by density, age, gender, education and years lived in an estate. Preference for safer neighbourhoods with open spaces and facilities was high for residents in low-density areas while preference for neighbourhoods with housing diversity, local employment and close proximity to workplaces was high among the residents in high-density estates. These insights under score the importance of addressing the varied needs and preferences of different demographic groups in urban planning and housing policy to create more equitable and livable communities in Nairobi in order to limit housing mismatch. This study contributes to the planning studies by firming up empirical evidence from developing countries that have high populations in urban areas.
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    Drought Related Impacts on Local People’s Socioeconomic Life and Biodiversity Conservation at Kuku Group Ranch, Southern Kenya
    (International Journal of Ecosystem, 2012) Wangai, Peter; Muriithi, J.K.; Koenig, Andreas
    The 2009 drought invokes painful memories to pastoralists and conservationists living and working in southern Kenya. The livestock economy predominant in the region was severely affected and wildlife was lost in large numbers. Death of livestock caused meat prices to increase rapidly while nature based tourism revenues decreased significantly due to wildlife deaths. This paper assesses the actual losses of both livestock and wildlife species at Kuku Group Ranch (KGR) during the 2009 drought and the subsequent homegrown socio-economic alternatives to adapt to the drought. The study conducted between late 2009 and early 2010 shows the actual losses for cattle, goats and sheep were significantly high at 84%, 77.8% and 72.8% respectively resulting into huge monetary losses. Key wildlife species central to nature-based tourism such as Zebra (Equus burchelli) and wildebeest (conochaetes taurinus) were severely affected by the drought where they died more than any other wildlife species in the area. The drought increased the livestock and herbivorous depredations by carnivores in the area. The study concludes that despite re-stocking in the case of livestock and re-introduction strategies in the case of wildlife, other sustainable alternatives for adaptation to droughts needed to be integrated to replenish the livestock and wildlife numbers to levels that can ensure stabilizing Maasai people’s livelihoods and also incomes from nature based tourism ecotourism.