SAND HARVESTING AND ITS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON HOUSEHOLD’S LIVELIHOODS IN HOMABAY COUNTY, KENYA
SAND HARVESTING AND ITS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON HOUSEHOLD’S LIVELIHOODS IN HOMABAY COUNTY, KENYA
Mercy Buke - Master’s Student, Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Jackson Musau - Lecturer, Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Philomena Muiruri - Lecturer, Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Sand harvesting is an economic activity that has socio-environmental effects on people's lives. The magnitude of the effects varies from place to place based on the prevailing circumstances in such places. This study, therefore, sought to find out the socio-environmental effects of sand harvesting on residents of Kobala Sub-location in Homa-Bay County. Subsequently, the key objective of this study was to explore sand harvesting and it’s social-environmental effects on household’s livelihoods in Kobala sub-location in Homabay County. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and used questionnaires and key informant interviews as the instruments of data collection. Using Yamane formula, the study sampled 370 respondents from the residents of the Kobala sub-location. Purposively, 15 key informants were selected; ten residents of Kobala engaging in sand harvesting activities and five NEMA officials of Homabay County. Data from questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data from key informant interviews. The findings of the study revealed that sand harvesting in Kobala sub-location has had negative social effects on the residents by increasing the rate of education wastage among teens, an increase in domestic violence, an increase in accidents and deaths in the area. Further, the findings have established that the cost of treatment for the residents has risen due to increased mosquitos breeding in open valleys as well as in the management of waterborne diseases. The study has further established that water sources are negatively impacted with increased soil erosion and depletion of vegetation which worsen food insecurity in the area.
