Dynamics of Ecohydrology, Governance, and Community Livelihoods of Migori River Watershed, Kenya
| dc.contributor.author | Balaka, Stephen | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-12-18T08:55:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-12-18T08:55:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-06 | |
| dc.description | A Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Planning and Management in the School of Engineering and Architecture Of Kenyatta University, June 2023. Supervisors. 1. Sammy C. Letema 2. Godwin Opinde | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study investigated the dynamics of ecohydrological processes, watershed governance, and livelihood systems of Migori River watershed. The objectives of the study were to; examine the institutional arrangements in the Migori River watershed management and their influence on the nature and level of coordination among the actors, evaluate the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on the trends of stream flow and sediment yields in Migori River watershed from 1980 – 2020, assess the spatio-seasonal variations of water quality parameters of Migori River and associated household health risk implications in Migori River watershed, and assess the level of sustainability of community livelihoods in the Migori River watershed and its associated vulnerability to climate change impacts. The study adopted a mixed-method approach comprising case and cross-sectional study designs which enabled the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data from different sources. Governance assessment was based on semi-structured interview data qualitatively analyzed through content analysis in ATLAS.ti software. Simulation of hydrological changes due to LULC changes was performed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model embedded in QGIS, with analysis of LULC patterns from remote sensing data conducted based on maximum likelihood classifier algorithm. In assessing the water quality trends along with potential health risks, 18 physico-chemical and bacteriological variables were sampled and analyzed monthly for two seasons from six stations using standard procedures, and a health risk survey conducted with 90 households. ANOVA and T-test were used to test for the significant spatial and seasonal variations, respectively; whereas the overall water quality status was analyzed using the CCME water quality index (CCME-WQI). The community livelihoods‘ sustainability level in the watershed and its associated vulnerability to climate change impacts were analyzed using the Livelihood Sustainability Index (LSI) and Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI-IPCC), respectively, based on 318 households‘ survey data. The results on the structure and roles of institutions at various levels revealed adequate representation of the river basin management actors within the watershed; but the associations among these actors are weak due to conflicting and overlapping mandates, and gaps in the coordination processes. The watershed has undergone a substantial transformation between 1980 and 2020, with a considerable decline in shrub lands by 40.63%, grasslands by 84.86%, forests by 52.90%, water by 82.03%, and wetlands by 38.44%; whereas cultivated land, bare land and built-up areas have expanded over the same period by 34.25%, 132.28% and 461.20%, respectively. These LULC changes, majorly driven by population pressure and poverty, have contributed to the decline of actual evapotranspiration by 2.83%, potential evapotranspiration by 5.38%, and groundwater flow by 19.06%; and an increase in surface runoff by 32.57%, water yield by 4.82% and sediment by 84.58%. Water quality variables showed significant seasonal variability but no significant spatial differences at p < 0.05; with integrated analysis showing the river is polluted and potentially hazardous for human usage due to high bacteriological levels. The LSI and LVI-IPCC respectively categorized the watershed households as moderately sustainable and moderately vulnerable to climate risks, with no significant differences across the watershed zones (p < 0.05). The study concludes that the changes in land use practices and climate variability has negatively impacted hydrologic flows and has implications for watershed community livelihoods, which the existing governance framework may not effectively manage due to flaws in the institutional structure undermining coordination of stakeholders. The study recommends interventions in the institutional design of the governance system; and implementation of suitable land use zoning, multifaceted pollution control measures and rural development initiatives for enhancing household‘s adaptive capacity to climate change. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | 1. Kenyatta University 2. DAAD | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29406 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | Dynamics of Ecohydrology, Governance, and Community Livelihoods of Migori River Watershed, Kenya | |
| dc.type | Thesis |