https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/34 2026-05-05T08:02:38Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3404 LAND USE, LAND COVER CHANGES AND IMPLICATIONS ON SURFACE WATER ACREAGE IN KOITOBOS RIVER CATCHMENT IN TRANS NZOIA COUNTY, KENYA. SOITA, BRAMWEL WOTIA Globally, many countries are facing pressure to meet the livelihood needs of their fast-increasing populations. This often leads to overuse of natural resources and consequent encroachment on fragile ecosystems such as river catchments and riparian areas, mostly in developing countries. This has resulted to unsustainable land use practices coupled with land degradation exerting pressure on land and water resources which are basic to ecosystem livelihood. Overally, this study was to assess the implication of land use, land cover changes on surface water acreage in the Koitobos River catchment between the period 1992 to 2022. Specifically assessed the extent of land use/land cover changes within the river catchment, examined the variations in surface water acreages in Koitobos River, and evaluated land use practices for sustainable land and surface water management in the study area. Land use/land cover data was based on Landsat images pertaining to the period of study, using descriptive and correlation research design. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Remote sensing techniques were used for acquisition of secondary data and social economic data was collected using survey questionnaires for validation feedback and ground trothing. A sample size of 384 respondents was drawn from a target population of 203,821 residents according to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2019, (KNBS) within the study area. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 25 and Microsoft excel for analysis. From the findings of Land Use, Land Cover Change in the selected years, 1995, 2009 and 2022, due to data availability and consistency, showed that Agricultural Land, covered a majority area of the Catchment depicting, 26,853Ha, (58%), 32,438 Ha (70%), and 36,118Ha (77.68%) respectively. Followed by bare land area which covered 14,915 Ha (32%), 8,093 Ha, (17%) and 6175 Ha (13.28%) of the entire catchment area extremely decreases transitionally as the Agricultural land increases due to the pressure exerted on the resource. The Forest Land showed drastic decreasing trend through the transitional period from 2242 Ha (5%) to 1647 Ha (4%) and then 222 Ha (0.48%), due to increasing demand for more space by the growing population as per (KNBS) reports, which increasingly results to deforestation activities within the catchment. Water resources within the Koitobos catchment showing an increasing trend from the year, 1995, 2009, and 2022 as follows, 2332 Ha (equivalent to 5%), 3803 Ha (equivalent to 8%), and 3521 Ha (equivalent to 7.6%) and this resulted from the artificial digging of new water pans, dams and protected water points and streams. The population of the study area in 2009 was 166,524 persons and 203,821 persons in 2019, within an area of 465.3square Kilometers with residents’ density of 438.0 per square kilometer. Interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) viewed that integrated approach on sustainable land management will be key in relieving the pressure on the natural resources. The study found out that due to 2% (percent) annual population change of 2009- 2019, resulted in an increased demand for food production within the environment where arable land couldn’t be expanded therefore concluded that environmental policies and laws needed to be adopted. The study therefore recommended the adoption of sustainable land use management practices that continually heal the land and conserve biodiversity by imploring catchment plans. 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3402 INFLUENCE OF YOUTH PARTICIPATION ON POLITICAL PARTY VIOLENCE AT NOMINATION STAGE IN HOMABAY COUNTY, KENYA Wende, Jovince Okoth Kwadha Youth participation influencing political party violence is a global concern, affecting democratic processes worldwide. In Africa, this issue undermines stability and governance. Regionally, within East Africa, such violence disrupts political unity and development. In Kenya, particularly in Homa Bay County, it threatens local democracy, peace, and electoral integrity. In Kenya, party primaries are characterized with violence and all sorts of uncivility with youths taking the centre stage. Despite the fact that most scholars have studied matters elections, very little research if any have been done to unearth the Influence of youth participation on political party violence at nomination stage in Homabay County, Kenya. The overall objective of this study was to examine the influence of youth participation on political party violence at nomination stage in Homabay County, Kenya. Homa Bay County is one among counties that experience high political activeness. The specific objectives were to; examine the nature and extent of Youth Participation in Politics within Homa Bay County, Kenya; assess the nature and extent of violence at nomination stage in Homa Bay County, Kenya and interrogate the Challenges and Opportunities towards peaceful nominations in the Context of Youth Participation in Politics in Homa-Bay County, Kenya. The study was justified academically and policy wise. The study was done thematically according to specific objectives. Institutional and Pluralism theories will be utilized in this study. The study employed cross sectional research design. The target population included voters of Homa Bay County, National Cohesion and Integration Commission officials, political leaders, security agents, Catholic Justice and Peace Department (CJPD) officials, election observers, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Officials, victims of party primaries violence, political party officials, youth and religious leaders. Purposive, convenience, snowball and simple random sampling techniques were used in sampling. The study collected data by use of questionnaires, interview guides and FGDs. A sample size of 400 voters and 37 key informants were used. The key findings of the study were; first, many young individuals in Homa Bay County perceive voting as a fundamental civic duty, recognizing its significance in influencing political outcomes and fostering accountable governance. Secondly, violence during the nomination stage in Homa Bay County, Kenya, presents a grim reality that undermines the democratic process and poses significant challenges to the well-being of its residents and lastly, limited access to information acts as a formidable barrier to meaningful youth participation in the nomination process, with far-reaching implications for the peace and stability of the region. The study concludes the following as per the objectives: First, youth activists contribute significantly to the county's political landscape, promoting inclusivity and democratic governance. Secondly, disruption of electoral processes emerges as a strategic tactic to undermine the integrity of the electoral system, with instances of violence leading to the disruption of voting procedures and the disenfranchisement of voters. Thirdly, the digital divide exacerbates disparities in access to information, with urban areas and affluent communities enjoying greater connectivity and technological resources compared to their rural counterparts. The overall conclusion is that, youth-led civic education initiatives have the potential to promote inclusive and intersectional approaches to civic education that resonate with the diverse experiences and identities of young people in Homa Bay County. The study recommends that; by fostering partnerships between government institutions, civil society organizations, and youth-led initiatives, stakeholders can harness the energy, creativity, and talents of young people to address the pressing challenges facing Homa Bay County and build a more inclusive, equitable, and democratic society for all its citizens. 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3401 IMPLICATIONS OF BIOMETRICS TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGEMENT OF IDENTITY-BASED CONFLICTS BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA Awuor, Odiyo Onyango Nairobi being a highly populated and cosmopolitan city has faced personal identification challenges due to the influx of people from other countries, impersonation, increased criminal activities, identification of disaster victims, urban refugees, and asylum seekers, and lack of identification documents. The problem of the study was the identification crisis and challenges due to the influx of people into Nairobi City County. The overall objective of this study was to examine the implications of biometrics technology in the management of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: identify the nature and extent of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi; examine the effectiveness of biometric modalities used in the management of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi; assess the challenges and opportunities of biometric modalities employed in the management of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi. The research was guided by Conflict Theory and Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The research used descriptive design which is key in increasing the researcher’s familiarity with the problem, gathering information about practical problems, clarifying concepts and formulating a problem for more precise investigation. The researcher targeted a population of 300 respondents; National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) 30, Police officers 20, Registration Officers 30, Forensic officers 10, Fingerprint Officers 80, Huduma Centre staff 60, National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Data officers 30, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Officers 20, Identity Conflict victims 20 spread across Nairobi City County. A quota sampling technique was used based on the officers dealing with biometrics, grouped into series and a minimum number was selected for each set. In addition, purposive sampling was employed and snowball sampling was used to get information from the victims of identity-based conflicts. The sample size was 171. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data focused on the use of questionnaires, and observation checklists for officers dealing with biometrics and in-depth interviews for identity-based conflict victims. Secondary data was obtained from journals and books. Data analysis was done by use of qualitative and quantitative techniques. The Statistical Package for Social Scientists version was used to analyze the data and presented in tables. The study revealed fraud, impersonation, political conflicts, terrorism and cadavers were major sources of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi. Biometrics used in place included fingerprints, face recognition, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), iris and signature. The study revealed that biometrics offered solutions to the timely provision of identification documents and uniquely identifying individuals within Nairobi City County by 51.5% hence solving the identity-based conflict. The study revealed that 40% of government agencies mainly use fingerprints as a key biometric modality in managing identity-based conflicts. Although the Immigration and Registration Act CAP 107 authorizes the use of biometrics in Kenya as a single source of truth on personal identity, 53.33% of respondents argued that the government does not have a clear policy on the use of biometrics. The study concludes that biometrics is effective in the management of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi. The study recommends that stakeholder consultative processes be adopted to seek further ways of strengthening existing policies. Furthermore, a biometrics body be formed to encourage research and informed decisions in terms of biometric use in identity-based conflicts. This will help in identifying the loopholes that cause identity-based conflicts and formulate protection mechanisms in service deliveries through the use of biometrics. It further recommends that the government incorporates other biometric modalities such as iris and DNA in personal identification. 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3400 IMPACT OF SPATIOTEMPORAL LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE ON LAND UNDER MAIZE CULTIVATION IN LIKUYANI SUB-COUNTY, KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA Shilibwa, Henry Kangwana Likuyani Sub -County is ideal climate and high-quality soil for farming, especially maize cultivation—a major crop in Kenya—Likuyani Sub-County has established itself as the nation's main hub for the production of maize and seeds. Though Kenya has a reputation for producing maize, recent reports have shown a worrying reduction in the country's output, forcing the government to import the crop to make up for the gap. This decrease is associated with rapid population increase, which leads to significant changes in land usage and the division of agricultural land into smaller, less profitable units. A major problem, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, is the potential negative impact of these changes on rural livelihoods. The goal of the study was to understand the complex dynamics and driving forces behind changes in land use and land cover, with a particular emphasis on land used on production of maize in Likuyani Sub-County between 1997 and 2017. Sentinel 2A, Landsat 7 ETM+, and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS satellite imagery for the corresponding years were carefully examined utilizing pixel-oriented supervised image classification methods. For verification and analysis, questionnaires, GPS data collecting, ground observations, and additional data were used. ArcGIS, Microsoft Office software, and ERDASS IMAGINE are examples of analytical tools that made data interpretation and statistical analysis easier. Between 1997 and 2017, the analysis showed a notable yearly decrease of 8.92% in area used for maize production, in contrast to an annual growth of 10.87% in land occupied by structures. Coverage of grasses and shrubs decreased by 0.31% every year, whereas sections of woodland and swamps stayed mostly unchanged. Regression analysis among other statistical techniques revealed the detrimental impact of land alterations on maize producing land. The study urges the quick identification and use of the best land management techniques in Likuyani Sub-County in light of these findings. The identification, development, and implementation of sustainable land management methods necessitates the active participation of all pertinent stakeholders, especially local populations. 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z