MST-Department of Environmental Education

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Climate Variability Effects on Vector-Borne Livestock Diseases in Narok South Sub-County, Narok County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2021) Onyango, Kennedy Bwire; Cecilia M. Gichuki; Evelyne Wemali
Variability in climate has in recent decades caused adverse impacts on natural and human systems all over the world. Based on the most recent available projections, Kenya will be severely threatened by the direct and indirect impact of climate variability, most of which is likely to accelerate in the coming decades. When such calamities occur, the livelihood of pastoral communities is negatively affected and their economies dwindle mainly because of loss of livestock which is their main source of income. The study assessed the effect of climate variability and the associated vector-borne diseases on livestock in Narok South Sub-County from 1980 to 2010. The study period was associated with high prevalence of vector-borne diseases hence the need to understand the cause and impacts. Objectives of the study were: to analyse the trends of droughts and floods in Narok County; to assess the relationship between rainfall patterns and vector-borne livestock diseases and to analyse the perceived impacts of climate variability by pastoral communities in Narok South Sub-County from 1980 to 2010. The study worked with the hypothesis that the cases of selected vector-borne diseases had no significant relationship with rainfall patterns over the study period. It adopted a descriptive research design and used stratified random sampling; Stratum 1 comprised of Segamian, Sagoo, Melelo and Ololunga Wards that are agro-pastoral zones and stratum 2, comprised of Loita and Maji moto Wards that are mainly pastoral zones. Structured questionnaires were administered to 397 households while 36 key informants from relevant institutions were interviewed. Data was statistically analysed and the correlation results showed that other than Heartwater (p= 0.402), r=0.011 and N=38), other vector-borne diseases had a weak relationship with the amount of rainfall received. Nonetheless, there was some small relationship between graphical plots with cases of diseases either decreasing or increasing with corresponding decrease or increase of rainfall. According to the Chi-square analysis, there was a strong statistically significant difference between the two strata on the impact of floods and rainfall (floods: χ2= 24.902, df=3, p=0.000 and rainfall χ2=41.230, df= 3, p=0.000). The study revealed an increase in cases of most of the vector-borne diseases over the study period and attributes the increase to climate variability. The study recommends that development institutions should partner with the county and national government to create awareness on climate variability, build capacity to appropriate adaptation interventions and put in place contingency plans to enhance pastoral communities’ preparedness for the reoccurrence of the excessively heavy rainfall and droughts. Integration of indigenous knowledge in development of policies and institutional frameworks is also recommended.
Effects of Climate Variability on Rural Road Infrastructure and Greenleaf Transportation in Kericho County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2021) Koech, Nancy Chemutai; James K. Koske; Sammy Letema
Climate variability is a global phenomenon that is posing threat to roads infrastructure in agricultural sector. Like other parts of the world, African region is said to be vulnerable due to its geographical location and low adaptive capacity. Road infrastructure in Kenya has deteriorated due to varying temperatures and rainfall patterns. Intense precipitation may cause flooding and result to damage in road infrastructure. However, research on climate variability and how it affects rural road infrastructure received relatively less attention in research. Kericho County rainfall ranges from 1800mm to 2700mm, and temperature ranging from 17 ºC to 19 ºC which impacts on rural road infrastructure. Its effects have been manifested through frequent damage to rural roads. The study sought to examine rainfall and temperature trends in the county in the period 1989 to 2019. It also determined the extent to which climate variability has affected rural roads used for tea transport. It also assessed tea farmer’s perception on climate variability effects on rural roads infrastructure and greenleaf transportation. By use of Yamane’s 1967 formula, 398 farmers were obtained. Tea farmers were randomly selected and questionnaires administered. Structured interview was administered transport managers. In order to understand budgets and expenditures, a separate interview was administered to managers of Tea Board of Kenya. Data was statistically analyzed (p<0.05). Rainfall and temperature data from 1989 to 2019 was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department to determine rainfall and temperature variability. Results showed that there was significant variation annual rainfall (p<0.005). There was a varsity variation in mean maximum temperatures (p꞊ 0.009), and mean minimum temperature (p꞊ 0.000). Linear regression analysis showed rainfall had slightly increased (y ꞊ 2.5476x - 40.778) and temperature had significantly increased (y ꞊ 0.028x - 0.4473). Pearson product moment of correlation showed weak positive correlations between the rainfall amounts and cost of repairs and maintenances for Momul (r ꞊122, p ꞊ 0.691), Tegat (r ꞊ +.029, p꞊ .936), Litein (r ꞊.255, p ꞊ .449) and Tebesonik (r ꞊.046, p ꞊.922). However, Toror was negatively correlated (r ꞊-.261, p ꞊.466). This implies that as cost of repairs decrease, green-leaf amounts tend to increase (p꞊ 0.000). The study found that climate significantly varied between 1989-2019. Heavy rains occur periodically that damage rural tea roads thus impacting negatively on tea transportation. Rural roads should continuously be maintained to address uncertainties. There is need, therefore, for heavy investment of emergency funds for repair and maintenance of rural tea roads based on climate variability and heavy rain return period pattern. A comparative study should be done in other counties to understand climate variability on rural road infrastructure within those counties.
Effects of Human Activities on Utilization and Conservation of Kerisoi Forest Station, Nakuru County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2021) Joyce, Chelangat Langat; Paul Obade; Kamau Mburu
Forests in the world have immense importance ranging from productive to ecological services. Ecologically, forests are the world's largest water towers. They regulate hydrological cycles, pollution, and contribute to climate change mitigation. Despite these vital roles played by forests, deforestation and forest degradation continues, and this has reduced forest cover in the world from 4,128 billion ha in 1994 to 3,999 billion ha in 2015. Kenya’s closed canopy forest cover currently stands at about 7.4% of the total land area compared to 12.3% in Africa and 30.8% globally. Mau forest, which is the largest water tower in Kenya, has been destroyed and reduced by more than 25% since 1963. The study assessed the effects of human activities on the utilization and conservation of Kerisoi forest station, which is part of Mau forest. It was conducted in Kiptororo ward, Nakuru County. The objectives of the study were; i) to analyse the relationship between human activities and the loss of Kerisoi forest station vegetation cover over the period of 1989 to 2018, ii) to determine the effects of logging on the diversity of tree species in Kerisoi forest station reserve and iii) to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing conservation and protection measures in Kerisoi forest station reserve. The research applied a mixed-method research design which involved both descriptive and ecological surveys. In the descriptive survey, the sample size was 381 respondents; interviews were conducted only with the key informants. In the ecological survey, 10m by 10m quadrats were laid along 10 transect lines in the forest. In each quadrat, tree species were identified and recorded. Observation and photography were also made on various forest disturbances. Landsat images of 1989, 2002, 2010, and 2019 were used to compare land-use land-cover change. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS software. Qualitative data was analysed using structural techniques, establishing themes, patterns, relationships, and categories. The Shannon Wiener index of diversity was used to obtain the diversity of tree species in the forest. Landsat images were pre-processed and classified to come up with maps for comparison followed by accuracy assessment. The human activities identified in Kerisoi forest station included; logging, cattle grazing, and herbal medicine collection. Land use land cover change showed that natural forest was the most dominant land cover despite a reduction of 55.66 ha between 1989 and 2018 and an increase in the area under cropland by 1509.33 ha. 20 tree species belonging to 16 families were found in this study. The most abundant species was Podocarpus latifolia and the least was Cassipourea malosana, Olea capensis, and Teclea simplicifolia. The overall Shannon Wiener diversity index for Kerisoi forest station was 1.58. Conservation measures in place and known to the Kerisoi forest station respondents were plantation forest, law enforcement initiative, CFAs initiative, and public awareness. However, 34.9% of the respondents stated that they were not effective, contrary to 28.9% who stated that the conservation measures were very effective. The study concluded that the natural forest cover has reduced while cropland cover increased. The low diversity can be attributed to the effect of human activities besides non-effective conservation and protection measures. Consequently, measures such as fencing, forest restrictions, and banning all activities in the forest should be put in place to allow forest regeneration and recovery
Effects of Human Encroachment on Natural Regeneration of Indigenous Trees Seedlings in Kimakia Forest, Murang’a County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2021) Muriithi, Michere Florence; James Kung’u; Benson Mburu.
Degradation of the world's forests has been increasing due to human induced activities. As the world population continues to increase so is degradation. Natural regeneration of indigenous trees seedlings is the most effective way of rehabilitating degraded forests. The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of human encroachment on natural regeneration of indigenous trees seedlings in Kimakia Forest. A descriptive research design was used while mixed research method was used to collect the data in the field. By use of photography, human encroachment was identified inside Kimakia Forest. Ecological data were obtained from twenty quadrats with an inter-quadrant spacing of 40 Meters that were laid systematically in ten (10) transects, each measuring 800 Meters long and laid perpendicular to the forest edge at an inter-transect spacing of 500 Meters. Indigenous trees seedlings in each quadrat were counted and recorded respectively. To determine the extent of human activities by the members of the community in the forest, questionnaires were administered to a sample of 218 households through stratified random sampling technique. Interviews were conducted on key informants selected through purposive sampling technique. Ecological data was analyzed using Shannon Wiener Diversity Index while quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Qualitative data was grouped into themes and was later used to back up quantitative data. Species diversity was established to be moderately good with an index of 2.01. Regression analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between the total regeneration of indigenous seedlings counts and the distance from the forest edge with a P-value of 0.076. The study rejected the hypothesis that the diversity of indigenous tree seedlings in Kimakia Forest is significantly affected by the distance from the forest edge with a P-value of 0.675. Land scarcity and readily available market for forest products were major factors leading to human encroachment. Other factors included unemployment and low income per month. The study concluded that human activities in Kimakia Forest affect natural regeneration of indigenous trees seedlings. Market availability for forest products and population pressure will continue causing negative impacts in Kimakia Forest if there is no proper forest management. This study recommends Kenya Forest Service to map out regeneration curves of indigenous trees seedlings in the forest into various categories; for example, good, average and poor so as to monitor sustainability through natural regeneration. This will also enhance viable track of the various reasons attributed to low and high counts of indigenous trees seedlings in the forest.

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