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Water Access and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Case of Elementaita Division in Nakuru County, Kenya

Received: 20 December 2014    Accepted: 28 December 2014    Published: 12 January 2015
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Abstract

This study assessed water factors that impact sustainable rural livelihoods in Elementaita Division, Nakuru County. Problem of water access remains a multi-million challenge for families in rural areas and this had to be explained in scientific research through assessing water issues that affect the livelihoods. Households remain far from water projects despite interventions that governments, NGOs and other agencies have put in place. The study had the following objectives; assess water access factors and its impact on sustainable rural livelihoods, evaluate management of water projects and determine how it impacts on sustainable livelihoods and to determine how socio-economic factors of water impact rural livelihoods in Elementaita Division. The study used sustainable livelihood framework in its analysis and establishing what areas of interventions would be considered for the study. This includes looking at assets, capital, livelihood strategies, institutional processes and vulnerability context. This was a descriptive survey and questionnaires were generated on related areas of study. Sampling for household was carried out through systematic sampling. The study targeted a sample 195 household heads, 1 water users association also a Key Informant Interview (KII) was carried out with District Water Officer (DWO) and District Public Health Officer (DPHO). Data was carried collected using questionnaires, interviews and supplemented through secondary data. Data was analysed using inferential statistics by use of descriptive statistics. The findings were presented in tables using tables. From the findings water availability, quality and affordability determine the level of households assets in the community thereby impact negatively or positively. Over 98% of the respondents reported that children walk long distances or do not attend school in order to fetch water for the households, this impact negatively on their mental and physical development as well as their education. There is need to carry out awareness on the implication of using water of poor quality in the community as it may have adverse health effects on the lives of the community. Increasing awareness levels on rain water harvesting by the community need to be enhanced to improve on quality of water. Parents should also ensure that their children access education and not engage in child labour. The findings and recommendations of the study are important to Ministry of Water, researchers, all stakeholders and the community of Elementaita Division and Nakuru County in enhancing water access and addressing some of the challenges identified.

Published in International Journal of Science, Technology and Society (Volume 3, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12
Page(s) 9-23
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Water Access, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Elementaita Division

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  • APA Style

    Cherutich Jonah, Timothy Maitho, Quinter Omware. (2015). Water Access and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Case of Elementaita Division in Nakuru County, Kenya. International Journal of Science, Technology and Society, 3(1), 9-23. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12

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    ACS Style

    Cherutich Jonah; Timothy Maitho; Quinter Omware. Water Access and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Case of Elementaita Division in Nakuru County, Kenya. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Soc. 2015, 3(1), 9-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12

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    AMA Style

    Cherutich Jonah, Timothy Maitho, Quinter Omware. Water Access and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Case of Elementaita Division in Nakuru County, Kenya. Int J Sci Technol Soc. 2015;3(1):9-23. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12,
      author = {Cherutich Jonah and Timothy Maitho and Quinter Omware},
      title = {Water Access and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Case of Elementaita Division in Nakuru County, Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Science, Technology and Society},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1},
      pages = {9-23},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsts.20150301.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsts.20150301.12},
      abstract = {This study assessed water factors that impact sustainable rural livelihoods in Elementaita Division, Nakuru County. Problem of water access remains a multi-million challenge for families in rural areas and this had to be explained in scientific research through assessing water issues that affect the livelihoods. Households remain far from water projects despite interventions that governments, NGOs and other agencies have put in place. The study had the following objectives; assess water access factors and its impact on sustainable rural livelihoods, evaluate management of water projects and determine how it impacts on sustainable livelihoods  and to determine how socio-economic factors of water impact rural livelihoods in Elementaita Division. The study used sustainable livelihood framework in its analysis and establishing what areas of interventions would be considered for the study. This includes looking at assets, capital, livelihood strategies, institutional processes and vulnerability context. This was a descriptive survey and questionnaires were generated on related areas of study. Sampling for household was carried out through systematic sampling. The study targeted a sample 195 household heads, 1 water users association also a Key Informant Interview (KII) was carried out with District Water Officer (DWO) and District Public Health Officer (DPHO). Data was carried collected using questionnaires, interviews and supplemented through secondary data. Data was analysed using inferential statistics by use of descriptive statistics. The findings were presented in tables using tables. From the findings water availability, quality and affordability determine the level of households assets in the community thereby impact negatively or positively. Over 98% of the respondents reported that children walk long distances or do not attend school in order to fetch water for the households, this impact negatively on their mental and physical development as well as their education. There is need to carry out awareness on the implication of using water of poor quality in the community as it may have adverse health effects on the lives of the community. Increasing awareness levels on rain water harvesting by the community need to be enhanced to improve on quality of water. Parents should also ensure that their children access education and not engage in child labour. The findings and recommendations of the study are important to Ministry of Water, researchers, all stakeholders and the community of Elementaita Division and Nakuru County in enhancing water access and addressing some of the challenges identified.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AB  - This study assessed water factors that impact sustainable rural livelihoods in Elementaita Division, Nakuru County. Problem of water access remains a multi-million challenge for families in rural areas and this had to be explained in scientific research through assessing water issues that affect the livelihoods. Households remain far from water projects despite interventions that governments, NGOs and other agencies have put in place. The study had the following objectives; assess water access factors and its impact on sustainable rural livelihoods, evaluate management of water projects and determine how it impacts on sustainable livelihoods  and to determine how socio-economic factors of water impact rural livelihoods in Elementaita Division. The study used sustainable livelihood framework in its analysis and establishing what areas of interventions would be considered for the study. This includes looking at assets, capital, livelihood strategies, institutional processes and vulnerability context. This was a descriptive survey and questionnaires were generated on related areas of study. Sampling for household was carried out through systematic sampling. The study targeted a sample 195 household heads, 1 water users association also a Key Informant Interview (KII) was carried out with District Water Officer (DWO) and District Public Health Officer (DPHO). Data was carried collected using questionnaires, interviews and supplemented through secondary data. Data was analysed using inferential statistics by use of descriptive statistics. The findings were presented in tables using tables. From the findings water availability, quality and affordability determine the level of households assets in the community thereby impact negatively or positively. Over 98% of the respondents reported that children walk long distances or do not attend school in order to fetch water for the households, this impact negatively on their mental and physical development as well as their education. There is need to carry out awareness on the implication of using water of poor quality in the community as it may have adverse health effects on the lives of the community. Increasing awareness levels on rain water harvesting by the community need to be enhanced to improve on quality of water. Parents should also ensure that their children access education and not engage in child labour. The findings and recommendations of the study are important to Ministry of Water, researchers, all stakeholders and the community of Elementaita Division and Nakuru County in enhancing water access and addressing some of the challenges identified.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Education and External studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Education and External studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

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