Authors: Lepolis Maen Lesinko, Frida Nyiva Mutui & Evans Wabwire
The Catholic University of Eastern Africa
P.O BOX 62157-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding Author E-mail:lesinkomaen@gmail.com
Abstract: Sand harvesting is widespread, highly unregulated, uncontrolled and is being carried out at an alarming rate. The gravity of the situation beyond the affected communities and the region at large is enormous and poses a threat not only to the environment but also to food security. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate impact of sand harvesting on the Olkeriai Riverine environment in, Mashuuru Sub-County, Kajiado County in Kenya. The study was guided by; Model of Environmental Concern. This study used descriptive survey research design. The target population of the study was 64,214 residents of Mashuuru Sub-County, Kajiado-County. The sample size was decided using Krejcie & Morgan (1970) formula and the sample size of the study was 187 respondents which comprised of 3 environmental officers, 4 administrators and 178 residents. The main type of data in this study was primary. This study used questionnaires to collect data from residents and interview schedules from environmental officers and administrators. Data analysis was done using SPSS. The quantitative data collected from questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics. The descriptive statistics that were used included, mean, standard deviations and percentages. Qualitative data from interviews was analysed using themes. Presentation of analysed data was done in tables of frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics were presented to show correlation of variables and relationship between study variables. The study found that the impact of sand harvesting has a positive and statistically significant effect on the environmental in Olkeriai Riverine, Mashuuru Sub-County (r=0.613; p<0.05). This implies that sand harvesting influence environmental conservation. In conclusion sand harvesting has contributed to biodiversity loss, landslides, soil erosion and pollution to air, water and soil. Sand harvesting has degraded and caused encroaching effect to ecosystem biodiversity of Olkeriai Riverine in Mashuuru Sub-County. The study recommends to the national government to deploy enough environmental officers who will help in enforcing the law and policies that are tailored to protect destruction of endangered zones. The existence of government formulated policies to regulate land use and impacts on the environment will amount to nothing if they are effectively implemented.
Keywords: Sand Harvesting, Impact assessment, Riverine Environment, Sand Harvesting Impact
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Suggested Citation
Maen, L.L., Nyiva, F. M & Wabwire, E. (2024). Impact of Sand Harvesting on the Olkeriai Riverine Environment in Mashuuru, Kajiado County in Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 11(1), 33-44. Available online at http://arjess.org/social-sciences-research/impact-of-sand-harvesting-on-the-olkeriai-riverine-environment-in-mashuuru-kajiado-county-in-kenya.pdf
