The Role of Community Awareness in River/Wetland Conservation: A Case of Upper Yala River Watershed

Introduction: Nandi County, situated in the North Rift region of Kenya, encompasses a vast and ecologically diverse landscape. The county’s river/wetland systems play a crucial role in supporting local livelihoods, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. However, rapid socio-economic changes, coupled with environmental pressures, have raised concerns about the sustainability of these water systems and the communities they support. Despite the signifi-cance of the river/wetland systems, there is limited understanding of the com-munity’s awareness, interaction, and land usage practices in relation to these water bodies. This knowledge gap hinders the formulation of effective conservation and management strategies tailored to the local context. Objective: This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of the Nandi County residents, their level of community awareness, land usage practices, and interaction with the river/wetland. Research Design and Methodology: The study employed a descriptive cross sectional study design. Utilizing a multistage sampling technique, the upper Yala catchment was stratified based on ecological and topographical characteristics. From these strata, sub-catchments were randomly selected, followed by systematic random sampling of households within each sub-catchment. A total of 400 households were surveyed. Data collection involved both quantitative and qualitative methods, with the latter encompassing Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS Version 27, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis using NVIVO-10 software. Results: The population exhibited a balanced age distri-bution with 54.6% aged 44 years and below. Males constituted 55.0% of household heads. A significant 70.9% of household heads were married, and 29.4% had completed secondary education. Farming was the primary occupa-tion for 74.6% of households. In terms of community awareness, notably, 97.0% of respondents correctly identified the river/wetland as natural. Qualitative findings highlighted varying levels of understanding regarding the season-ality of the water resource, with some households demonstrating accurate knowledge, while others held misconceptions (KIIs: Department of Agriculture Nandi, Water Resource Association). On land Usage and Ownership, a majori-ty, 86.3%, owned their land, with 93.0% using it primarily for agriculture. Qual-itative insights revealed diverse land tenure arrangements and the significance of farming in the region (KIIs: Department of Agriculture Nandi, Water Re-source Association). With regards to interaction with River/Wetland, 64.2% reported their land stretching into the wetland area, with flooding identified as the primary hazard by 62.4% of respondents. Qualitative data emphasized the challenges faced by households in their interaction with the river/wetland, in-cluding waterborne diseases and encounters with wildlife (KIIs: Green Belt Movement, Kenya Forest Service). Conclusion: The river/wetland systems in Nandi County are integral to the community’s socio-economic and cultural fabric. While there is a commendable level of awareness and interaction with these systems, challenges such as flooding and land usage conflicts underscore the need for integrated management approaches. Recommendation: Policy-makers and stakeholders must prioritize community-based conservation initia-tives, taking into account the local socio-demographic dynamics. Collabora-tive efforts, encompassing local communities, government agencies, and NGOs, can foster sustainable land usage practices and enhance the resilience of the river/wetland systems in Nandi County.