UG-School of Environmental Studies
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Item Assessment of Community Forest Associations in Socio-economic empowerment of communities in Kinangop, Nyandarua County(2014) Thirikwa, Roselyne WanjiruParticipatory Forest Management is a framework that has widely been adopted in management of forests because it includes community and other stakeholders in forest management. The Forest Act (2005) provided way in which PFM would be implemented in Kenya to provide a solution to the problems facing the forestry sector. It provided an opportunity for the community to participate in the management of the forest through co-management of the forest with KFS using Community Forest Associations who together with other stakeholders come up with a Participatory Forest Management Plans for forests that inter alia establishes the CFA’s roles, responsibilities and their user rights in the forest reserve. In the initial stages of implementation of Participatory Forest Management in Kenya it was noted that CFA’s face various challenges in their attempts to improve the socio economic status of the forest-adjacent communities which if not addressed, may defeat the purpose of PFM and revert the state of forests to a situation where there is open access to forests and deforestation. This project was aimed at assessing how PFM has been implemented in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, the steps they have taken to improve the socio-economic status of the community and the challenges they are facing in improving livelihoods. The findings from questionnaires, interviews, observation and literature review show that a CFA was established with a specific purpose and objectives. However most of the objectives are yet to be met due to various challenges such as lack of funds. The report is finally concluded with several recommendations that can be adopted by the CFA and other stakeholders to address the challenges they face in socio-economic empowerment of communities.Item An assessment of environmental impacts of quarrying activities in Ndarugo area, Kiambu County(2014) Mwangi, Samuel NjorogeArtisanal mining has been for many years disregarded, where large scale mining that involves large scale extraction of minerals such us valuable metals, oil and gas has been documented and given much concentration. Small scale mining however has had a significant role to play in the developing countries, where it takes opportunity of the abundant available labor while only requiring limited amounts of less than abundant capital. Nevertheless, this sector of the economy surrounded by much enthusiasm has a lot of problems, which has plagued it; poor health and safety, wasted mineral resources, and environmental degradation (Noronha, 1998). This sector is not affected by other pollutant problems like those experienced by the mining industry involved in metals and minerals, because the process of extraction is merely physical, and more recently involves the use of some machinery to ease the process. However, this does not mean that stone quarrying does not have its fair share of numerous environmental effects, which are actually serious. Ndarugu is among the areas in the country where such quarries exist, and they pose a blatant disregard for the environment. The research project aims at looking at these environmental effects, coming up with mitigation measures and recommendations to tackle these issues. The major effects were examined first by looking at relevant literature, and finally collecting data on the ground and providing a comprehensive analysis. Data was analyzed and represented statistically through use of graphs and photographs collected in the field. The findings show that the quarrying activities are a great source of negative environment impacts. The issue is greatly accelerated by the fact that the quarries are abandoned after use and no elaborate rehabilitation plan is available, and furthermore the sector is highly unregulated with no proper legislations and policies.Item An assessment of environmental impacts of stone quarrying activities in Nyambera location Kisii County(2014) Anunda, C. NyakenigaKenya is a growing economy and it is in the list of third world countries what is commonly referred to as developing countries. As a result of this its poor-rich gap keeps on growing as a result of the high stone quarrying and its impacts on the environment by able investors and as research indicates 4 out of every 5 Kenyans live in rural areas and this may clearly imply that most of the rural folk live in high poverty levels. To sought out this problem of high poverty levels research has clearly shown that making improvements in the quarrying of minerals such as stones has contribute significantly to achieving global development priorities, particularly the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halving poverty and hunger reduced by 2015. A significant body of research shows that development of a viable stone quarrying sector is vital for both economic growth and poverty reduction (World Bank, 2004; DFID, 2004a). Rural stone quarrying is thus one of the key items in the achievement of development in most counties in Kenya in this case Nyambera in Kisii County because of the fact that rural areas carry a large percentage of the Kenyan population. Most people engage stone quarrying because of low finance involved in the activity. Initially financial service providers assumed that it was not viable to invest in stone quarrying areas this is because of constraints such as the weakness of rural finance markets as well as their dependence on agriculture to earn a living this is according to various scholars such as (Zeller and Sharma, 1998; Buchenau, 2003) who believe that positive effect of rural finance on growth, poverty and livelihoods is limited by the weakness of rural financial markets. Stone quarrying has also been hindered by physical access that is the distance between the consumers and the service providers among other constraints. However, with time the constraints have been overcome with the pursuit of the millennium development goals. Many developing countries Kenya inclusive have aligned themselves towards alleviating over-exploitation of minerals like stone quarrying. Through the help of the Kenyan government there was a creation of the agent quarrying legislation that has changed the picture of rural stone quarrying dramatically. It has enabled community in nyambera to create a wide network of agents who carry out various services such as stone agents, brokers and so many other services addressing the problem of physical access on stone quarrying. The commercial stone quarrying industry also has not been left behind in making this goal a reality. It will use all the necessary data collection techniques such as questionnaires, interview and observations as well as the descriptive research design to make this research a success. The tools used for the study will be tested including the questionnaires and the interview schedule for purposes of ascertaining whether it is fit for the fieldwork. The research will be carried out in Nyambera in Kisii County to ascertain the effect of stone quarrying in the environmentItem An assessment of factors influencing the choice and adoption of biogas technology among the peri-urban residents of Kisii County(2014) Bundi, M. BonnkeBiogas technology in Kenya dates back to the 1957.Efforts to promote the technology in most potential areas had not been effective in the country until May 2007 when the plan for implementation of national biogas energy programme started with the formation of the Kenya Biogas Task Force. Despite the potential and demand the adoption level has been low and on a decreasing rate. The study sought to assess the level of people‘s awareness and attitude towards biogas technology, to explore the root causes of low technology adoption in relation to the efforts so far executed in biogas promotion, to assess the efficacy of biogas technology in comparison to other sources of household energy and sought to explain the roles and challenges stakeholders face in their effort to promote biogas technology in Kisii county. Multi-Stage sampling procedure involving purposive selection of resource persons who have been reached by biogas programmes with the purpose of capturing the experiences of biogas users and potential adopters. The study was conducted in the peri-urban of five town centers in Kisii County namely:Kisii,Sunek,Mosocho,Marani and Kiogoro.The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches in data collection and analysis. A conceptual framework based on the adoption theories guided the analysis of factors influencing biogas adoption. Study findings show that 85.71% of the population was aware of the technology and only 114 units of t in 2007 and 167 units as by 2013 December. Biogas technology adoption has continued to decrease. The decrease has been associated with reduction and subsequent withdrawal of subsidies for biogas plant constructions. Based on the results of factors influencing biogas technology adoption in the area, starting from the most influential to the least are: high installation costs of plants, multiple use of household fuels, level of income and education ,promotion of the technology, and from the experience of biogas users, biogas was very efficient when well maintained and very clean, no health implications were reported though they complained of inadequate combustion efficiency to provide more energy for cooking and inadequate or rather lack of facilities and appliances such as stoves and lamps. There was minimal coordination between stakeholders and lack of a central coordinating body. The study further identified that the government institutions have not fully engaged in promoting biogas technology in the area and instead the responsibility has been left to NGOs without effectual intervention on other factors including information dissemination, access to credits motivation and coordination. Based on the study, the researcher recommends that first the ministry of energy should harmonize the policy on energy and environment so as to uphold biogas technology as an alternative clean green energy, secondly there is need for a central biogas coordinating body at the national and regional level to coordinate and monitor stakeholder roles as well as financial management and also introduce technologies that are cheap such as the plastic tubular design through enhanced researchItem An assessment of solid waste management in Kisauni Division, Mombasa County(2014) Cerella, Johanna SarryThe implementation of sustainable integrated solid waste management is one of the key parts to addressing sustainable development in the current generation. Current global trends of population growth urban and consumerism have dramatically increased the generation of waste in urban area. Inadequate waste services have led to informal burning and dumping in streets and open spaces, which is degrading the environment and creating profound public health concerns. With no strategy in place to properly deal with Solid waste management, today‟s global trends will continue to exacerbate these problems. The management of municipal solid waste has become a problem in Mombasa. This is easily identified by the persistent heaps of uncollected waste found on the street sides or ubiquitous illegal dumps. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors influencing effective solid waste management in Kisauni. This study analysed the underlying factors affecting effective solid waste management in the region and suggested possible measures to tackle the problem. A survey of the households was conclude was conducted to determine reviews of the residents, and this were then incorporated into the findings and recommendations as documented in the last chapter of this report. Finally the results from the data analysis underscore the necessity of an integrated approach to solid waste management not only in Kisauni but in Mombasa County as a whole.Item An assessment of the challenges and opportunities of restoring the Mau Narok forest at Mau Narok division Njoro district, Nakuru county, Kenya.(2014) Kamau, Peter WaithiruThe Mau Forests Complex (MFC) is considered the most important of the five main watershed areas in Kenya because of its economic, social and environmental contribution to the country. The forest is under increasing threat from irregular and ill‐planned settlements, encroachments and illegal forest resource exploitation. In recent years, the Government of Kenya (GoK) has taken significant steps towards addressing the threat of rapid ecological degradation of its forest resources. A new forest policy and law were adopted in 2005. The forest law has placed significant emphasis on co‐management of forest resources with local communities and the private sector and lays the foundation for the strict control of logging and human settlements. Another major step in addressing this issue was to commence restoration activities of the forests with focus set on Mau Forest. The Mau Narok forest is a part of the Mau Forest Complex where such restoration activities have taken place. The past restoration efforts at the Mau Narok Forest have not been successful evidenced by the massive dying of newly planted trees leading to duplication of reforestation efforts. There is no research study that documents the challenges and the opportunities of restoring the Mau Narok Forest. The purpose of the study was to investigate the challenges and opportunities of restoring the forest as the way to improve seedling survival rate. This study was based in Mau Narok Division, and attempted to assess the factors that retard the restoration efforts and also came up with the opportunities that had not been seized. The study was able to unmask most of the challenges and opportunities. Among the challenges, included insufficient funds to undertake the restoration activities fully that specifically involve planting, tendering and protection exercises. In the opportunities, the local community has a great potential to participate fully in the conserving and restoring the Mau Narok Forest.Item Assessment of the challenges of water supply and sanitation in uncontrolled residential developments of Huruma estate, Nairobi County(2014) Kahariri, Morris MainaThe struggle for water and its resources have progressively increased over periods of time. This is majorly attributed to the fact that the resource, as vital as it is, faces excessive extraction resulting from rapid population growth as well as urbanisation and industrialization trends. In Kenya, several families face many problems related to water and sanitation services. In the study area the project resolved in finding out the various challenges of water supply and sanitation in the uncontrolled residential developments. A sample size of 65 people was taken to represent the entire population in the area using proximate representative estimation. Systematic random sampling technique was then used, sampling pattern being every fifth house on the right and tenth house to the left of the line transect. Snowball sampling was used in institutional interviews to identify the most appropriate respondents. Findings were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft excel and represented in the form of bar graphs and pie charts. Increased urban population has a direct impact on water supply and sanitation in Huruma Estate as it was found to be a major cause of this challenge with 55%in agreement to this. Other major causes of inadequate water supply and sanitation included infrastructural developments at 20%, depleted water towers and inadequate dump sites at 15 % and low levels of income at 10%. The study also looks forward to giving recommendations of use of water storage devices such as water tanks as a short term strategy and an extension of water pipes distribution lines to be in direct proportion with population growth. Community led total sanitation mechanisms that would help correct the situation is also recommended.Item An assessment of the level of compliance with the solid waste management regulations (2006) in Starehe district, Nairobi County(2014) Ochieng, Victor A.Globally, solid waste management is a serious challenge for cities in developing counties. The ever-increasing quantity of waste generated in cities in developing countries poses a risk to ecosystem and human health. The challenge is equally notable in regions such as Asia and Africa where there are less developed countries lacking modern waste management technologies. Kenyan cities are not exceptional. The country’s capital, Nairobi, faces a major environmental challenge of pollution from solid waste. Open dumping of waste presents a real threat to the environment and to human health and is commonplace in Nairobi. Constrained by budget pressures, the city county is struggling to deal with the proliferation of solid waste. While there are several justifications for the high level of pollution from solid waste in cities in developing countries, low level of compliance with relevant regulations is a causative factor. The case is true for Nairobi country as evident in the results of this research. This study was prompted by the urge to find a lasting solution to solid waste pollution in developing countries through high level of compliance with regulations. The research was conducted through a comprehensive evaluation of the level of compliance with the provisions of Solid Waste Management Regulations (2006). The main objective was to establish the level of compliance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations (2006) among waste generators in Starehe District, Nairobi County. To achieve this, questionnaires were administered to various policy implementation officers in Starehe District. Data was analyzed and represented statistically, through use of graphs and tables. The findings show a low level of compliance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations (2006), in Starehe District, NairobiItem The Challenge of Cleaning and Maintaining Mathare River in the face of growth of the Mathare Slum Settlements in Nairobi(2014) Osore, Brian OmondiDue to the increasing forms of environmental degradation, many countries have realized the importance of safeguarding their natural resource bases and have made such management actions like river rehabilitation their priority. This project report explores and analyses the challenge of cleaning and maintaining Mathare River in the face of the Mathare slum settlements in Nairobi. It was carried out between September 2013 and April 2014. Mathare River is one of the three rivers within the Nairobi River Basin with the other two being Motoine/Ngong River and Nairobi River. The research was based on three specific objectives, which are; finding out the approaches applied in cleaning and maintaining the river; finding out why the slums are a challenge to the rehabilitation process and to find out whether it is practically possible to restore and maintain a 30m meter riparian zone in the presence of the Mathare slum. Household questionnaires, focus group discussions, direct observation and field photography were the primary sources of data while the secondary sources of data included institutional interviews, published reports, magazines, journals and websites. The findings showed that the NRBP was a multi-stakeholder initiative. The Mathare slum settlements pose a challenge to the cleaning and maintenance of the river in a number of ways including by encroaching into the riparian zone, improper waste disposal (evidenced by the 77% and 81% of the respondents who dispose solid waste and liquid/fecal waste directly into the river respectively) and unsustainable uses of the river. Another major finding was that residents who have stayed in the area for over 20 years have developed a sense of attachment to the land. This therefore would make it a daunting task to evict these residents for the clean-up project to be successful and sustainable. Finally, the report does recommend some feasible alternatives to some of the approaches highlighted by the NRBP. iv These include among others the implementation of Integrated Village-Level Planning to facilitate the provision of essential infrastructure within the Mathare slums.Item Challenges and prospects for effective water conservation in Mwingi North district, Kitui county, Kenya(2014) Wachira N. Shelmith, Shelmith N.Water conservation involves the strategies and activities that are used to manage water resources, especially fresh water as a sustainable resource. Conservation aims at protecting the water environment and its resources from negative impacts in order to make them to be able to meet current and future demands, making them sustainable. Water is faced with a lot of challenges from human demand, this including the population, household size and growth. Environmental challenges include climate change and environmental degradation. Water is a basic necessity to human survival. With the current environment, due to climate change and degradation, water has been a challenge to the community especially those living in the ASAL areas. These challenges affect the community negatively in all sectors, economically, socially and politically. Without water the community and country’s development is affected. Efforts to conserve and protect water are also affected as the resources become scarce and hence survivals for the fittest tactics are employed, thus implementing the measures of conservation is affected. This project is aimed at providing and coming up with the challenges that face water conservation in Mwingi constituency in Kitui County. Chapter one helps to discuss the problem as it is in the region and the world. It gives the problem statement, justification and significance of the study. Research questions, objectives and premises are also raised. The objectives are clearly identified to help and guide this study. In chapter two, literature from different scholars is used to further define the problem of the study. This helps to know the contribution made by scholars and researchers in the issue of challenges facing water conservation in the world and other regions. It focuses in water conservation and the challenge of implementing it globally, regionally and locally. The third chapter helps use to get familiar with the study area, defining the area in terms of its physical, economic and social set up. The fourth chapter helps us to identify the research design that is used in the study. The nature and sources of data and the data collection instruments are discussed in this chapter. In chapter five, it deals with analyzing the data collected. Data analysis was based on the information obtained from questionnaires, interviews with the government offices and household information, personal observations and the interviews from the people in the area. Household characteristics such as household size, income and water conservation practices where analyzed.Item Enforcement and Compliance on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in Industries in Thika municipality, Kiambu County(2014) Kamau, Edward NjugunaOccupational Safety and Health (OHS) is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. The goal of occupational health and safety programmes is to foster a safe and healthy work environment. As secondary effects, OSH may also protect coworkers, family members, employers, customers, suppliers, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment as well as reduce medical care, sick leave and disability benefit costs. The lack of effective OHS measures in the industries in the study area and the laxity of the responsible institutions to enforce OHS regulations have contributed heavily to non-compliance with OHS measures. Data from both primary and secondary sources was collected using interviews, observations, questionnaires and documented literature. Sampling frame of twenty five respondents was identified from five industries in the study area and sampling units drawn using systematic random sampling. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis were employed in the organization and interpretation of the gathered data in line with the objectives of the study. The objectives of the study helped to find out what OHS measures existed in the industries in the study area, assess the enforcement and compliance of OHS regulations in the study area and to give suggestions on and how to enhance safety and health of workers in industries in the study area. The findings assisted the researcher in formulating recommendations that could significantly improve the efficacy and compliance levels of OHS measures in industries in Thika Municipality.Item Evaluation of Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Projects; in Nairobi County(2014) Wambui, Harrison MainaItem Impact of open pit artisanal gold mining a case study of Rongo constituency(2014) Odhiambo, Kelvin MwangoThis research explores the socio-ecological impacts in Rongo district caused by artisanal small scale gold mining. The International LabourOrganisation (ILO) acknowledges gold mining by itinerant miners as the means of livelihood for more than 13 million people in the developing world. Although there are many potential socio-economic benefits of artisanal small scale gold mining, there are numerous negative impacts from these small and inefficient operations as a result of wasteful extraction and processing techniques. Environmentalists and disaster planners face the challenge of regulating the artisanal small scale mining sector to reduce the ecological impacts because of lack of resources since the country is on the verge of hyper inflationary environment. The escalating rate of unemployment is a force behind the increase of artisanal small scale miners, especially in Rongo district. Their unregulated activities in the district result in risk accumulation processes as it promotes land degradation, vegetation destruction, and pollution of water sources. This risk accumulation process if not checked as is the case in Rongo district will put an insurmountable pressure on the ecology resulting in its collapse in future. The unskilled and underequipped artisanal small scale gold miners use mercury for amalgamation as it requires no special skill and is inexpensive, fast and effective. The study used observational fieldwork, archival research, interviews and questionnaires. The research projects found that it was a ticking time bomb for an ecological disaster. The operations were found to be worsening environmental impacts. The negative effects are already being felt in the district as rampant land degradation has contributed to siltation of riversKuja and Migori among other variables, destruction of vegetation as well as contamination of water bodies. The impacts far outweigh the potential socio economic benefits of artisanal small scale mining. There is massive land clearing as by burning of bushes and unregulated stripping of the overburden. The role of the government as enforcers of laws and regulations and promoter of mining development need to be defined. Environmentally destructive mining practices persist as there is lack of enforcement and control mechanisms. On the other hand miners need to take responsibility for the negative impacts from their livelihood. They however need improved access to financial resources and more incentives for conservation.Item Impact of Residential Development on Urban Wetlands: The Case of Watiti Wetland, Kangemi Estate, Nairobi County.(2014) Guto, Stella NyasugutaItem Impacts of instream sand harvesting on water supply, a case study of river Thwake, Makueni County(2014) Kivuva, MutisoThis paper examines the impact of sand harvesting from rivers on the environment, water quality and quantity along Thwake River, Makueni County. Sand acts as a safe aquifer for water flowing below and through it. Removal of sand results in destruction of underground aquifers and loss of safe water. Sand scooping adversely affects surface water quality and quantity and damages the aquatic ecosystem. Haulage of sand by heavy trucks causes environmental degradation by accelerating soil erosion and affecting soil stability. Storage of sand causes destruction of surface areas through clearing of vegetation and uses land that could be used for agriculture. Related social and health problems include prostitution and high school drop-out rate leading to serious social and health problems. The beneficial effects of sand harvesting include local employment; however, the share of monetary benefits to locals is minimal. The results show that the local community gains the least from sand harvesting, but stands to suffer the most if the degradation of the river system continues. Suggestions are made for safe and sustainable methods of managing sand harvesting, in which greater local involvement and stricter enforcement of regulations to protect the environment are vital. Therefore, the protection of water resource from destruction through activities such as sand mining is paramount for the survival of both present and future generations. This research is a survey type of a research and employs quantitative methods of data analysis. Data was presented in form of graphs, tables and charts. The objectives of this research are therefore to identify the impacts of sand mining along River Thwake on both water quality and quantity. It also seeks to identify the social impacts of sand harvesting on the nearby society. This report describes in detail the major impacts both positive and negative of sand mining, and attempts to provide direction on how to resolve the negative impacts of sand mining. This it does through proposals and recommendations advanced later in this reportItem Impacts of the southern bypass road construction through Ngong forest on the African crowned eagle, Nairobi County(2014) Wainaina, Lynda WacekeForests have numerous economic, social and ecological values. In Kenya most of the forests form vital water catchments for rivers among other ecological services as well as providing a habitat for numerous species of animals. Ngong Forest is an urban forest in Nairobi County that has a wide variety of flora species and serves as a habitat to various animals including birds such as the African Crowned Eagle. This research project aimed at finding out the challenges facing the African Crowned Eagle in Ngong forest as a result of the clearance of sections of the forest to pave way for the construction of the Southern bypass road, which resulted in habitat fragmentation. The study focused on determining how the birds‟ population has been affected as well as the impacts on its breeding grounds and changes in its dietary characteristics. The findings of this study indicate that there are a number of negative impacts that have resulted from the construction of the road through the forestItem Impacts of water hyacith on the fishing industry at the Winam Gulf, Kisumu County(2014) Adan, Marian Salim