Theses and Dissertations- Masters

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations- Masters by Subject "Adaptation Strategies in Lake Naivasha"

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    Influence of Water Level Variability on Economic Activities and Adaptation Strategies in Lake Naivasha, Kenya
    (Egerton University, 2024-09) Mengich Maiba Brenda
    Lake Naivasha’s fresh water provides multiple services to the surrounding communities, and to a large extent explains the dense population around it. The lake is a Ramsar site and an important Bird Area, which has been experiencing a water variation cycle over the years causing direct and indirect effects on fishing, agriculture and tourism. Variation in water levels leads to flooding, and receding which has disrupted the ecology, functions and ecosystem services of Lake Naivasha. This study was conceptualised to: analyse the spatial and temporal variation of water levels between 1992 and 2022; determine the economic effects of water level variability; assess the adaptation strategies to water variability; and to establish a relationship between Surface area water level variability and fish yield and revenue in Lake Naivasha. The theoretical frameworks were based on the Socio-Environmental theory and the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response model. The study adopted a cross sectional research design. A Semi-Structured questionnaire was administered on a sample of 197 water users drawn from the fishing, agriculture and tourism sectors. Secondary data was collected using Landsat images that provided the temporal and spatial level of water variability and documentary analysis for the period 1992 and 2022. Satellite images was used to analyse the spatial and temporal variation of water levels between 1992 and 2022. Descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The results indicated that there was a positive correlation between Surface area Variability and fish yield (r= 0.6261, R2= 0.3920) and Fish revenue (r= 0.5219, R2= 0.2724). Surface area variability explained 39% and 27% of the variation in total fish yield and fish revenue respectively. The study findings indicate that significant increase in water levels led to a 52% decline in the number of tourists thus affecting negatively the tourism and hospitality industry. On the other hand lake level increase led to a 45% increase in horticulture yields and reduction in lake water levels led to a 59% reduction in horticulture yields. In terms of adaptation measures to extremes in water variability, reduction of the household budget ranked highest among the households dependent on fishing with a mean of 3.47, while income diversification was the most preferred by tourism and hospitality industry workers (2.28), and horticulture workers (3.14). The study concludes that the selected economic activities were affected by water level variability. Therefore, there is need for continuous monitoring and surveillance of the lake level, and water quality by the relevant government agencies. This study recommends that the economic sectors should embrace the Lake Naivasha Water Basin allocation plan, as well as watershed management and conservation measures for the sustainability of this freshwater body.