Landslide occurrences and their effects On land use activities in Kittony area of Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of landslides and their effects on land use activities in Kittony area of Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. The objective of the study was to: investigate the effects of landslides on land use activities in Kittony area of Elgeyo Marakwet County. The study population comprised of 2000 residents of Kittony Area in Elgeyo Marakwet County, five members of the local administration and a county geologist. The sample size consisted of the following respondents: Two hundred and forty six residents of Kittony area which translated to 12.3% of the total population was selected as study respondents through Simple Random Sampling. One local chief of Kittony area and a County Geologist was purposively selected and interviewed. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design and utilized a qualitative research methodology. The systems theory was used to underpin the study and a conceptual framework showing the interrelationship between the dependent and independent variables was used to guide and conceptualize the study. The finding of this study was that the frequent occurrences of landslides in the area had affected farming activities, led to loss of property and lives. That the government despite assisting by providing humanitarian assistance and advising people to move to safer locations, more was needed in terms of relocating residents to safer areas and converting the affected areas into forest lands, building gabions to control soil erosion and controlling other human activities. This study could also be replicated in other areas having similar problems