Effectiveness of Rainwater Harvesting as a Strategy For Flood Mitigation in Ruai Area, Nairobi County, Kenya.
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Date
2020
Authors
Nkirote, Doris
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Harvesting of rainwater is a strategy which primarily benefits the local human
livelihoods and ecosystems. Ruai has gone through development boom and
densitification, increased infrastructure such as roads, both single and multi
dwellings leading to changes in the physical characteristic of the area hence
increased surface run-off. Further Ruai and its environs are flat hence
encouraging flooding .There has been a range of incidences of flooding in the
area causing loss of property, disruption of socio amenities such as schools,
hospitals and roads. Structural measures such as drainage ditches, infiltration
trenches have been advanced and used to reduce flooding effects during rainy
seasons.. However, these measures have not been effective due to large
population growth and increased infrastructure in Nairobi. This study
investigated rainwater harvesting effectiveness in Ruai as an effective method
of flood mitigation and control. The objectives achieved were to evaluate the
socio-economic effects of floods in Ruai area, to examine strategies used by
the households and community and their success in avoiding loss and damage
from floods in Ruai area, to assess household‘s RWH adoption and farmingrelated uses in Ruai, to find out the socio-economic determinants of RWH
adoption and to assess RWH‘s impact on flood mitigation in Ruai. Using a
descriptive research design the study sampled 99 house hold heads and 6 key
informants through purposive sampling. The study employed questionnaires
for households and interview schedules for key informants. The household
questionnaire survey generated both descriptive and numeric information.
Closed questionnaires generated quantitative data, whose presentation and
analysis entailed tabulation in terms of and other techniques such as
frequencies, percentages and the mean. Interviews and open-ended
questionnaires helped gather qualitative data that was analysed through coding
and classifying (categorising and indexing). The results indicated that floods
led to destruction of property, disruption of social amenities, water borne
diseases, with 56 of 94 respondents migrating to higher areas at Ruai during
floods. Structural drainage systems such as dykes and culverts were used in
controlling floods with only a third of the respondents using rainwater
harvesting as a strategy to control floods. Socio-economic factors such as
gender, age, household size, education level, income level and land ownership
determined the adoption of water harvesting in a bid to control floods. More
than 60% of the respondents indicated that rainwater harvesting reduced lag
time for storm formation while 86% showed a reduction in overland flow. The
study recommends the need for all the stakeholders in Ruai and Nairobi County
to seek Rainwater harvesting strategies in ending the perennial flood problem.
Rainwater harvesting is a strategy that if well instituted and implemented can
help reduce and mitigate floods in Ruai and be an alternative during water
scarcity period. Community awareness should be done to encourage
households to think of and embrace rainwater harvesting as a strategy for flood
prevention and mitigation and not only to capture water for domestic use.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for the
Degree of Master of Environmental Studies
(Community Development) in the School of
Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University
Keywords
Rainwater Harvesting, Flood Mitigation, Ruai Area, Nairobi County, Kenya