Anthropogenic Factors that Causes Floods in Mukuru Slums, Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Urban slums are facing increased challenges of flooding scenarios that hinder their development. Increased flooding events in informal urban settlements can be attributed to humankind alteration of the environment. The study sought to determine anthropogenic factors that caused floods occurrence in Mukuru slum. The study used a cross-sectional survey research design. Stratified random sampling technique was used to collect data from a sample size of 100 respondents. According to the study findings, 32%, 28% and 19% of the respondents stated that poor solid waste disposal, uncontrolled development and clearing vegetation along rivers and wetlands respectively triggered the occurrence of floods in the study area. Human alterations also led to changes in land use land cover patterns in the area. The integral recommendations of the study were: demolition of illegal houses built above the open drains and riparian reserves, restoration of wetlands that act as floods buffer zones by planting trees.