Effects of Adherence to Environmental Rules and Regulations in Stone Quarrying at Tuluongoi Sublocation of Baringo County, Kenya

Stone quarrying has been recognized as a socioeconomic activity serving as a fundamental source of livelihood for some communities. Nonetheless, most operations are often accompanied by adverse effects on the same communities and the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the level of awareness of environmental rules, regulations, and principles governing stone quarrying in Tuluongoi sublocation, Tenges Division, Baringo County. The study also sought to establish whether there is a linkage between awareness of environmental rules, principles, and regulations governing stone quarrying and the impacts on the environment. Two villages were chosen for the study. The stratified sampling procedure was used to pick 120 households from the two villages, the total number (97) of regular quarry workers was enumerated, and purposive sampling was used to select six key informants. The quarry workers and household heads were the primary units for data collection. Primary data were collected by using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, observations, and pictorials. Secondary data were obtained from census reports, peer-reviewed journals, county strategic plans, unpublished theses, and scholarly books. Some data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, while the SPSS software was used to generate tables, graphs, and frequencies. The chi-square procedure was used to test whether the awareness of environmental rules and regulations on stone quarrying were significantly independent of environmental degradation at the 0.05 significance level. The study established that 55.1% of quarry workers and 65% of household heads were unaware of any environmental rules, regulations, and principles governing stone quarrying. Out of those aware, 88.9% of household heads and 67.7% of quarry workers had poor awareness of environmental regulations and requirements. The study recommends that National Environment Management Authority promotes and enforces environmental rules, regulations, policies, and principles governing stone quarrying in collaboration with the relevant county government departments by enhancing awareness among the residents.

Impacts of climate change on agriculture in Senegal: A systematic review

Climate change is a global environmental threat, affecting every sector of the economy with agriculture being the most affected as a result of its dependence on climate especially rainfall and temperature. The objective of this study is to examine the impacts of climate change on agriculture (crop production) and identify the farmers’ adaptation strategies to the impacts of climate change in Senegal. This study employed systematic literature review. Searching of relevant documents were conducted between 26th December 2020 and 10th February, 2021. A comprehensive search of six databases were conducted. The databases searched were Scopus, African Journal Online (AJOL), ProQuest, Elsevier, Research gate, and Google scholar. The findings revealed that temperature is expected to increase by median value of 0.90C (0.70C-1.50C) by 2035, by 2.10 (1.60C-3.30C) by 2065, and 4.00C (2.6-5.90C) by 2100 and rainfall could increase by 1% (uncertainty range of −4% to +8%) by 2035, 2% (−8% to +8%) by 2065, and 5% (−10% to +16%) by 2100. As a result of rising temperatures, local agricultural production will be less than 50kg per capita by 2050. This is expected to have an effect on crop imports as well as regional migration. The decrease in rainfall under RCP2.6, (Representative Concentration Pathway) combined with the effect of temperature, has a significant impact on the yield of sorghum, maize, and millet, with production decreasing by up to 20-50%. Farmers employed several adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change; sowing improved variety, mixed cropping, income diversification, ownership of multiple farms, religious practices in form of prayer. The review recommends strengthening of climate related institutions, adoption of new innovations, implementation of new climate related policies, climate monitoring and forecasting, enhancing and strengthening community-based adaptation through sensitization and incentives.

Adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change by smallholder dairy farmers: A case of Nandi county in Kenya

Climate change has an impact on agriculture and subsequently food productivity and security. This study assesses adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change by smallholder dairy farmers in the Nandi county of Kenya. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and key informant interviews were used to collect data. A Pearson's chi-square test was used to test significant associations. Results indicate most households in study area were male headed (79.2%), with between 4 and 6 people (51.8%) and aged between 31 and 60 years (75.4%). Over 80% of households were dependent on farming as a source of income. Households depended on natural pastures on their own farms as a source of feed (76.5%) and crop residues (49.9%). Natural pastures and fodder crops were considered the most important source of feed for the cows. Fodder were planted in less than 0.5 acres of land for Napier (80.1%), Rhodes grass (57.5%), Sorghum (54%), Maize (33.4%), Kikuyu Grass (40.3%), Lucerne (59.4%) and household planting <50 fodder Trees (82.1%). Smallholder farmers conserved/preserved crop residue (88.2%), hay (39.9%) and silage (35.4%). Methods used to address negative experiences of climate change included use conserved hay/ silage (44.2%), buying of commercial feeds (40.9%), use crop residue (74.6%), moving of animals to other farms (8.8%) and selling of animals (17.4%). Measures to prevent negative effects of climate change included adoption of fodder types/varieties (54.7%) and conservation and preservation practices (70.0%). The study recommends greater attention to increase fodder crop production and conservation, support to smallholder farmers to explore new ways that would sustainably help them adapt and mitigate the effect of climate change on fodder productivity and subsequently on milk production.

Assessment of the Influence of Beach Management Units on Fisheries Governance in Migingo Island, Kenya

Beach Management Units (BMUs) in Kenya were established to ensure sustainable utilization and management of the fishery resource. BMUs as co-management institutions were conceptualized after the failed state-controlled fisheries management. Sustainable management by the BMUs has however not been realized, years after the institution’s inception. The study aimed to assess the management of Migingo BMUs; establish the effects of management of BMUs on the implementation of the regulations; and assess the implementation of regulations with regards to fish stocks. The study was done in Migingo Island, Lake Victoria which borders Kenya and Uganda. Data was collected from the BMU committee members and stakeholders at the fish landing site along the island’s shores. This was done through a questionnaire based survey; semi structured interviews from key informants and; focus discussion groups. Results revealed that the three out of seven functions were performed satisfactorily by the Migingo BMU. These were revenue collection, confiscation of illegal gears and arrest of offenders, as depicted by the satisfaction of respondents at 42%, 38%, and 68%, respectively. The other functions - conducting meetings, patrol of the lake, formulation of bylaws and inventory keeping had poor performance. Migingo’s BMU structure was found to be wanting as it lacked the assembly branch. Implementation of regulations by the BMU faced various challenges; lack of support from the government, inadequate funds and equipment and inadequate knowledge to operate its functions. This study shows that BMUs are viable institutions however the poor structure and management of Migingo’s BMU along with the challenges faced in implementing the stipulated regulations led to its ineffectiveness. Capacity building is therefore needed on the BMU’s management and governance at large, provision of relevant skills, equipment and funds and improved support from the government for the BMU to be efficient and effective.

Higher Education and Skills Development in Africa: An Analytical Paper on the Role of Higher Learning Institutions on Sustainable Development

Many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Africa face challenges that require the intervention of national governments, development partners and other stakeholders. HEIs also require new investment paradigms to maximize students’ acquisition of work-ready skills, knowledge and attitudes to enable students to contribute effectively to the workforce. The objective of this study was to identify reforms and investments needed to strengthen Higher Education (HE) in Africa and to inform the design and implementation of future investments and policy for sustainable development. A systematic review approach, involving a synthesis of literature on this theme in Africa in recent years, by African governments, education networks, academia and international bodies, was employed. The study used data from UNESCO and World Bank databases which were blended with the synthesis of the literature. The obtained literature was analysed and synthesized on the basis of its relevance and value to the HEIs study discourse. Textual and thematic analysis tookcentre stage with a view to establishing current reforms in HEIs and the concomitant investments that national governments and other key stakeholders need to make to have robust HEIs. The study used the Human Capital Theory that postulates that the most efficient path to the national development of any society lies in the improvement of its population, which is considered as the human capital. Despite criticisms of the human capital theory at the individual level on the extent to which education is directly related to improvements in occupation or income, human capital theorists generally assume that after all the known inputs into economic growth have been explained, much of the unexplained residual variance represents the contribution of the improvement of human capital, of which education is seen as most important (Merwe, 2010). The results of the study show that HEIs have done very little to promote Intra-Africa Academic Mobility and nurture HEI-industry partnerships to address demand and supply aspects of the labour force. The massification of higher education, resulting in a democratization of education, and the advent of the knowledge economy and globalization, among other factors, are being experienced without commensurate planning and with no corresponding accompanying increase in resources to enable the HEIs cope with the increased student population. HEIs in Africa are sub-optimally capacitated to combat Africa’s pressing challenges such as unemployment, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic. The study points out that HEIs need to evolve in tandem with continental and global market needs to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4 on quality education. Further, it recommends that HEIs should encourage Intra-Africa Academic Mobility and foster HEI-industry partnerships to address demand-and-supply aspects of the labour force. In this respect, HEIs in Africa should be developing curricula aimed at building capacity of leaders and professionals to respond to the need to decarbonize and dematerialize development in Africa and leverage on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Consequently, HEIs must prepare students to be entrepreneurial and resilient; able to continue to learn and reinvent themselves and their careers throughout their lives. Indeed, HEIs should view themselves as creative hubs where partners come together and harness each other’s synergy to innovate and solve societal problems.

Land use influence on distribution and abundance of herbivores in Samburu-Laikipia, Kenya

The distribution and abundance of different wildlife herbivores was studied in Samburu-Laikipia landscape. The study sites included; Mpala and Oljogi, both commercial ranches in Laikipia district; Oldonyiro and Kipsing community areas in Isiolo district; West Gate Conservancy, Ngaroni Community area, Kalama Community area and Sessia-Barsalinga Community area in Samburu district; and Buffalo Spring National Reserve and Samburu National Reserve both protected areas in the landscape. The objectives of the study were: 1) Determine the influence of different land use on seasonal abundances and distribution wildlife species and 2) Examine the influence of livestock, human settlements and water on wildlife species in Samburu-Laikipia landscape. Distance sampling was used to estimate wildlife, livestock and bomas densities. Distance to nearest water was projected from GPS coordinates for both wildlife and livestock sighting using ARCGIS. Our analysis showed non-uniform distributions of wildlife groups across the Samburu-Laikipia ecosystem largely driven by seasonal rainfall patterns and land use types. Like predicted, most wildlife groups occurred in higher abundances on protected areas, Laikipia commercial ranches and community conservancies unlike in community grazing areas in both dry and wet season. However, large grazers increased substantially in community grazing areas over the wet season when livestock grazing was heavy, stimulating growth of short annuals plants of high-quality nutrients. Human activities had negative influences on all wildlife groups. Our findings indicate that the type of land -use influenced herbivore distribution and abundance in Samburu-Laikipia landscape. This suggests that human activities, including pastoralism, in conjunction with season rainfall patterns and land-use shape herbivore distribution and abundance in the area. Conservation strategies for successfully increasing survival of wildlife therefore, requires maintenance of a mixture of land-use types with well controlled and sustainable development.

Challenges, Opportunities and Sustainability of Community Forest Associations and Water Resource Users Associations: A case of Kilungu catchment, Kenya

Catchment degradation in the Kilungu catchment area in Kenya has persisted, albeit the presence of Kenze Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and Upper Kaiti Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs) involvement. This study sought to assess the challenges faced by CFAs and WRUAs, available opportunities and sustainability in the management of the catchment, employing an exploratory, descriptive survey. Data was collected through household questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informants’ Interviews (KII) and direct observations. The study established that Kenze CFA was facing major challenges at a rating of Very high (58%) and Highly (42%) as compared to Upper Kaiti WRUA at Very High (21%) and Highly (49), respectively. The Major challenges for the CFA being a non-functional CFA structure, while WRUAs challenges were minor on soft skills. Further, the challenges impacted highly on the outcomes of the CFA performance at a Very High (58%), Highly (42%) and WRUA Very High (21%) and Highly (49%), resulting in increased degradation of the catchment. In terms of opportunities, both institutions had various opportunities, although the WRUA had more opportunities at an affirmative Yes (99%) compared to CFA’s (54%). The key WRUA opportunity was that of being capacity build and empowered in order to ensure continuous efficient decision making and participatory management of the catchment, while the CFA had a supportive policy and law which presented a great opportunity of being enforced. Further, the WRUA respondents were more positive that the opportunities could improve the catchment at 38% (moderately), 42% (highly) and 20% (very high) compared to CFA’s 30% (moderately), 23% (highly) and 22% (very high). Results on Upper Kaiti WRUA and Kenze CFA respondent’s perceptions on sustainability revealed that both the WRUA and CFA were functioning well on aspects of equity and inclusiveness at WRUA rating of very highly (55 %), moderately (88%), and CFA very highly (25%), and moderately (50%). On accountability, WRUA had a rating of very highly (34%) and Moderate (88%), while the CFA was rated very highly (52%), and moderately (50%). In terms of WRUA and CFA effectiveness and efficiency, WRUA was rated very highly (36%), moderately (24) and CFA very highly (51%) and moderately (53%), respectively. Further results indicated that the WRUA highly involved its members in participatory decision making at moderately (88%) and highly (48%), compared to CFAs, who were rated at zero percent in the involvement of members in participatory decision making. On the observance of the rule of law, the WRUA were further rated highly (46%) and moderately (97%), while the CFAs were rated at zero percent. On consensus orientation, WRUAs were again rated highly (56%) and moderately (97%), while the CFAs were rated at zero percent. The study found that CFAs were facing more challenges, had fewer opportunities and various sustainability issues than the WRUAs, who were found to be having fewer challenges, had many opportunities and were significantly sustainable in all sustainability indicators. The implication of these results is that there is a critical need of addressing the challenges facing CFA and continually improve on the WRUA sustainability aspects as well as ensuring continuous empowerment of both institutions in order to overcome their myriad challenges, exploit their opportunities and ensure their sustainability. Further, there is a desperate need for a new and effective system for integrated Kilungu catchment management.

Imperatives for Pastoral Livelihood Sustainability in the Mara Ecosystem, Kenya

The seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) form a firm foundation for livelihoods and ecologi-cal sustainability in biodiversity conservation. Of the 17 SDGs, five of them focus on promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG 12), promotion of actions at all levels to deal with climate change (SDG 13), protecting and restoring all terrestrial ecosystems to end biodiversity loss (SDG 15), achieving peaceful and inclusive societies, the rule of law, effective and capable institutions (SDG 16) and strengthening and enhancing the means of implementation and global partnership for sustainable development (SDG 17) form the bond within which other SDGs coalesce with the goal of attaining sustainability of planetary ecosystems. The Kenyan and Tanzanian constitutions also are aligned to the achievement of livelihood sustainability. The fragmentation of the Mau-Mara ecosystem and consequent loss of wildlife habitat, the occurrence of droughts due to fluctuating rainfall patterns, loss of woody vegetation, commercial agricultural land use, population growth, increase in human settlement, and associated poaching are some of the factors responsible for shrinking wildlife resources in the Mara. Climate change poses a serious challenge for the Mara due to its adverse effects on temperature and rainfall patterns. Several recommendations have been suggested in this paper regarding different ways of addressing these human-wildlife conflicts. They include growing wildlife as a cash crop with a bonus to the local community and collaboration with the private sector to enhance the free movement of livestock while also freeing space within wildlife corridors, among others. This paper attempts to examine how the Maasai pastoral livelihoods are changing and the strategies adopted to cope with climate change and competing land uses in the Mara ecosystem. Suggestions are also made on some practical solutions that could contribute to sustainable pastoral livelihood systems in the area if implemented. This paper relies on literature search and review of various research works carried out in the Mara-Serengeti to highlight key issues involving livelihoods’ sustainability in the Mara ecosystem. The research revealed the threat posed by climate change and underlined the need for adaptation ensure livelihood sustainability.

Effects of civil conflicts on global oil prices and their impact on the energy sector

Recent research has increasingly interrogated the association between oil and civil conflicts within the political context while overlooking the primary use of oil. This paper examines three aspects of the claim “oil is a curse”. First, is it true? Second, is there a link between oil and civil conflicts? And third, do higher oil prices affect the energy sector, specifically electricity generation and pricing? By employing correlation matrices with data spanning from 1970 to 2016 at both global and local scale, the results of this analysis indicate that oil may be a curse or a blessing. Observation of oil prices and civil conflicts suggest a relationship between higher oil prices and severe civil conflicts with foreign state intervention. Severe imperial/colonial conflicts are associated with lower oil prices while no relationship is observed between oil prices and state based civil conflicts. These findings demonstrate that civil conflicts can arise in cases when oil prices are low and that foreign states have a bearing on oil related conflicts. Both electricity generation from conventional thermal sources and the fuel cost charge component of electricity prices are highly affected by global oil prices with correlations of 0.54 and 0.74, respectively. Renewable electricity sources - hydropower and geothermal were unaffected by global oil prices. This study does not endorse the use of conventional thermal sources for electricity generation while inviting more in-depth case studies on the link between civil conflicts and oil price shocks and their effects on the energy sector.

Factors influencing compliance with occupational safety regulations and requirements among artisanal and small-scale miners in central sakwa ward, siaya county

The paper emanates from a larger study on occupational safety compliance in artisanal and small-scale gold mines in Siaya County, Kenya. One of the key objectives of the study was to establish the factors influencing compliance with occupational safety regulations and requirements, among artisanal and small-scale miners in the study area. The study utilized a proportionate random sampling design to draw a sample of 97 miners. Primary data were obtained mainly through field interviews, observations and photography while secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished sources. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Research findings indicate that compliance with occupational safety regulations and requirements is influenced by awareness of the regulations and requirements, the use and cost of personal protective equipment, gender and administrative failure/incompetence. The study concludes that that the non-compliance factors need to be urgently addressed through appropriate policy, legal and institutional interventions.