MST-School of Environmental Studies

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This collections contains bibliographic information and abstracts of Master theses and dissertation in the School of Environmental Studies held in Kenyatta University Library

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Browsing MST-School of Environmental Studies by Subject "Adaptive Capacity"

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    Adaptive Capacity of Pastoralists to Climate Variability in Ngaremara, Isiolo County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2022) Nkonge, Lisper Gakii; Felix Ming’ate; Joseph Kurauka
    Pastoralism is practiced for subsistence, commercial and cultural purposes. It’s a sustainable way of utilizing ASALs and contributes to 4% of Kenya’s GDP. Climate variability, population explosion, and poverty have lowered the adaptive capacity to climate variability of Ngaremara pastoralists in Isiolo County. Therefore, this study was carried out to examine the adaptive capacity of pastoralists to climate variability in Ngaremara, Isiolo county. The study’s main objective was to evaluate the ability to adapt socially, physically, and economically to climate variability among the Ngaremara pastoralists in Isiolo County. The specific objectives were establishing the existing indigenous adaptive strategies, presenting the climatic trends for the past ten years in Isiolo County, to establish climate variations occurring over shorter timeframes as opposed to climate change that persists for more than decades, and determining adaptive capacity's internal and external hindrances. The study also aimed to deduce the strategies that enhance the willingness of the Ngaremara pastoralists to adapt to new climate variability adaptive strategies. The study used a cross-sectional research design. Systematic, simple, and purposive sampling methods were used to sample the population. Direct observation method, household interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect primary and secondary data using interview schedule and questionnaires. Qualitative data from household interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were analyzed according to the study’s objectives and collected using the KMacho App. The KMacho APP was used because it allows researchers to collect geographical location-specific information to monitor incidences, integrates data in the cloud database, and saves on time and cost. Quantitative data collected from household interviews and secondary sources were collected using the KMacho App and analyzed further using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS v.22 and Microsoft Excel. Data was imported from KMacho App and automatically grouped into titles, labels, and names using SPSS summarized into categories and tabulated to calculate the frequency of specific themes. Data presentation is in the form of tables, figures, and graphs. The expected output was that low socioeconomic development among Ngaremara pastoralists in Isiolo County increased vulnerability to climate variability. The study proves that there is reduced adaptive capacity and their traditional methods to cope with climate variability are futile. Their living standards are deficient because their livelihood sources solely rely on pastoralism, which has been affected by climate variability. Moreover, fluctuating rainfall of between 250mm and 400mm and an annual average temperature of 290C have exposed pastoralists to drought, floods, famine, and pastoral conflicts. Still, they are willing to adopt new coping strategies for climate variability. The impact of the study will enable informed decision-making by external agencies such as policy makers, NGOs, Isiolo County Government, and the community to improve the adaptive capacity to climate variability by developing coping strategies, creating information avenues such as Early Warning Signs, and enhance development by introducing various projects to diversify livelihoods. Future research should look into dimensions of food insecurity in Ngaremara and the effects of climate variability on human health.
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    Influence of Disaster Risk Reduction Projects on Adaptive Capacity to Climate Variability in Kitui County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2019-08) Mambo, Patricia
    Disaster risk reduction projects are some of the initiatives undertaken with an aim of addressing climate variability associated disasters such as droughts and floods and loss of agricultural production. The projects are normally aimed at reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience among rural communities towards climate variability and change. Results of adaptation measures undertaken by such projects to increase adaptive capacity of the communities remain largely under researched. By use of a descriptive survey design, this study focused on the influence of Caritas disaster risk reduction projects on the adaptive capacity to climate variability in Kitui County. Specifically, the study sought to analyze rainfall and temperature data (1979-2014) for climate variability in the study area. It also evaluated the effectiveness of adaptation measures to climate variability among project beneficiaries as well as examining the influence of socio-economic factors on the uptake of the adaptation measures. During the study, two sampling techniques were used; purposive sampling that was used to select The Kenya Livelihood Support Project and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Resilience Project implemented by Caritas-Kitui and also select key informants. Random sampling aided in selection of 106 project beneficiary households who were administered with questionnaires. Data obtained was analyzed through Statistical Package of Social Sciences and Excel in relation to the set objectives. The study employed descriptive statistics such as frequencies, mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics of ANOVA to test any significant differences on decadal means of rainfall and temperature while Chi-Square was used to test for any significant difference in rating used in Likert scale responses. Data was displayed in tables and graphs. Analyzed rainfall and temperature data obtained from Katumani (9137089) Kenya Meteorological Department station indicated that there was statistically significant mean temperature variation (p<0.005) within 1975-2014 while no statistically significant difference in rainfall variation within the same period. There was statistically significant correlation between mean annual temperature and rainfall (p<0.005) at 2-tailed significance level. In terms of perception of significant weather changes observed, 39% and 27% of respondents in ARP and KLSP projects asserted that there has been prolonged droughts experienced in the area. Likert scale was used to rank project adaptation measures and based on Total Weighted Mean (T.W.M) used to compute the ranking, it was observed that on-farm water harvesting (T.W.M=337.08), soil conservation (T.W.M=262.91) and income diversification (T.W.M232.23) ranked first, second and third respectively in ARP applied adaptation measure while KLSP applied adaptation measures, soil conservation was ranked first at T.W.M=387.80 and on-farm water harvesting second at T.W.M=346.36. Chi-square test performed to determine if there was any statistically significant difference in Likert scale rating of effectiveness of project adaptation measures indicated a significant difference (p<0.005) in ratings under on-farm water harvesting and soil conservation in both projects. Socio-economic factors that influence uptake of project adaptation measures, it was observed that finance was ranked first T.W.M=314.52 and 341.46 in ARP and KLSP project respectively. The study therefore concludes that disaster risk management projects have an influence on the adaptive capacity to climate variability. In addition socio economic factors that would influence uptake of adaption measures should be put into consideration during project planning and implementation.