Department of Environmental Studies
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/20.500.12092/1935
Browse
5 results
Search Results
Item Causal Factors Responsible for Changes in the Attributes of Urban Green Spaces in Nairobi City County, Kenya(2024-07-26) Mbugua, Martin Wandie; Kamiri, Hellen; Kamau, PeterUrban green spaces are an important part of public open spaces and a common service provided by a city, town, or municipal council. In Nairobi City County, green spaces have been increasingly threatened by overcrowding, poor planning, weak management structures, and illegal alienation thus denying city residents access to the much-needed recreation and leisure facilities. As the population increases in urban areas, their activities impact the environment and therefore the ecosystem services. This study was done with the Principle of Intelligent Urbanism in mind, as the most prolific urban development theory developed by the International Congress of Modern Architecture. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data while a cross-sectional survey designs and stratified random sampling of the green spaces was employed, based on the location within the urban core and peri-urban of Nairobi County. Four green spaces (Karura Forest, Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi Arboretum, and City Park) with diverse characteristics and attributes were selected. A sample population of 384 visitors to the green spaces was surveyed for their perceptions of the functions, uses, and benefits of the green spaces. Our findings showed that management structures and population growth are the main causal factors responsible for changes in the attributes of urban green spaces.Item Temporal changes in Rainfall and Temperature influence on Solid Waste Generation in Bungoma County Urban Centres, Kenya(2024-07-28) Wafula, Godfrey Wekesa; Ouna, Tom; Kamiri, HellenGlobally, temperature and rainfall play an integral role in the management of solid waste in urban areas. This is because many countries especially, the developing countries conventionally rely on both variables in the management of waste. However, the urban environment faces many threats as a result of challenged waste management practices due to these climate stressors. This research aimed to assess how temporal changes in temperature and rainfall influence solid waste generation. The study was carried out in Bungoma county urban centres, specifically Bungoma town, Webuye, Kimilili, Kapsokwony, Chwele, and Sirisia townships. The study applied a stratified sampling technique to select the urban and peri-urban centres while random sampling was used to select respondents in residential dwellings, business people, urban residents, and officers from government institutions including public health and environment, water, and natural resources were interviewed. Ancillary data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules while historical data was obtained to validate observed data. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and summarized using tables, charts, and graphs. The findings of the study indicated that rainfall and temperature significantly influenced the generation of solid waste.Item Assessment of Solid waste generation and composition in Bungoma County Urban Centres for appropriate waste management approaches(2024-08-02) Wafula, Godfrey Wekesa; Kamiri, Hellen; Ouna, TomThe quantity and characteristics of urban solid waste are a result of the interconnectedness of diverse factors at play including social, economic, and environmental factors. These directly influence the choice of management practice at the household or community level. Understanding these relationships can help policymakers and urban planners develop more effective waste management strategies. This study aimed at assessing solid waste generation and composition in Bungoma county urban centers to inform on strategies for effective management of urban waste. The study was carried out in Bungoma County urban centers, specifically Bungoma town, Webuye, Kimilili, Kapsokwony, Chwele, and Sirisia townships. The study applied a stratified sampling technique to select the urban and peri-urban centers while random sampling was used to select respondents in residential dwellings, business people, urban residents, and officers from government institutions including public health and environment, water, and natural resources were interviewed. Ancillary data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules while historical data was obtained from the Bungoma County Department of Environment and used to validate observed data. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and summarized using tables, charts, and graphs. Our findings show that the highest waste was generated from residential homes, commercial, and municipal services. In terms of composition, biodegradable waste had the highest proportion, followed by plastics and glass waste. Population growth could be a key factor in the increased generation of the waste.Item Attributes of Urban Greenspaces and their Influence on Visitors’ Preferences in Nairobi City County, Kenya(Eastern African Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Vol. 3 No. 1, 2024-07-07) Mbugua, Martin Wandie; Kamiri, Hellen; Kamau, PeterUrban green spaces refer to land covered with vegetation such as forests, street trees, parks, gardens, and water bodies in an urban setup. In this study, we sought to investigate the attributes of urban green spaces in Nairobi County and their relationships to visitor preferences. The Garden City Model advanced by Howard (1898) guided the study. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data while a cross sectional survey designs and stratified random sampling of the green spaces was employed, based on the location within the urban core and peri-urban of Nairobi County. Four green spaces (Karura Forest, Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi Arboretum, and City Park) with diverse characteristics and attributes was selected. A sample population of 384 visitors to the green spaces were surveyed for their perceptions of the functions, use, and benefits of the green spaces. Our findings showed that attributes of green spaces including location, accessibility, security, hygiene, and infrastructure could explain the interaction between green space provision factors and the frequency of visits, time spent in the green spaces and overall satisfaction of the visitors. Green space provision should be equitable in regard to distance to residents, quality of spaces, facilities and services and should be designed to meet the needs of diverse residents. Further, they should provide services and benefits such as shade, recreation, and health which are the main attractions to the green spaces. To achieve maximum benefits for visitors, green spaces need to be safe and physically accessible to all.Item SWEA-Dataveg – vegetation of small wetlands in East Africa(2015-09-30) Kamiri, Hellen; Miguel, Alvarez; Bodo, Maria Möseler; Josko, Matthias; Becker, Mathias; Langensiepen, Matthias; Gunter, Menz; Beate, Böhme; Oyieke, Helida; Handa, Collins; Misana, Salome; Mwita, Emiliana; Mogha, Neema; Sakané, NoméSWEA (agricultural use and vulnerability of small wetlands in East Africa) is a multidisciplinary project which task is to evaluate the effects of land use on the ecological and socio-economical functions of small wetlands in Kenya and Tanzania. In order to allow the availability of the collected data for further studies we stored them into SWEA-Dataveg (GIVD ID AF-00-006), a database stored in Microsoft Access (mdb-format). Because this project is dealing not only with vegetation science but also with geography, soil science, hydrology and socio-economy, the database also contains information related to these research fields. Additionally, some functional traits of the plant species occurring in the relevés are included in the species list. The sampling areas are concentrated in four localities, two of them in Kenya (Karatina and Rumuruti) and two in Tanzania (Malinda and Lukozi). The vegetation ecology group is dealing in the project with the classification of the vegetation according to species composition, the correlation of plant communities with environmental factors and land uses, and the survey of potential indicator species for the determination of the resilience of wetlands. Once finished the storage, we are considering an adaptation of SWEA-Dataveg into a TURBOVEG-format as well as its extension to further projects (e.g. SWEA phase II) and relevés collected from publications.