Research

Mr. Kevin Aloyo Kadede

Community participation in Organic Waste Management in the informal settlements of Kisumu City

Rapid global urbanization has led to an increase of slums and informal settlements worldwide. Increase in globalization has also seen an exponential increase in volumes of urban solid waste. Studies have revealed that a large portion of urban waste is generally decomposable organic material, most of which is generated at household level. Diverting this organic materials from the urban solid waste stream is very necessary not only due to the environmental benefits but also because the organic matter can be used as a resource. This however demands a people-centred approach and a radical shift in citizen’s role, from passive service receivers to active service partners.

Considerable case studies have documented the success of public participation in solid waste management. However most literature of this only exists from developed world. Little documentation is available on community involvement in organic waste management and utilization in informal settlements, despite the potential to generate income and offer livelihood opportunities. This study seeks to examine community participation in organic waste management in the informal settlements of Kisumu city. It aims to examine the extent and modes of citizen involvement in organic waste management in the informal settlements; to assess the factors that affect citizen involvement in organic waste management in the informal settlements; and to examine the organic waste utilization initiatives in the informal settlements of Kisumu.

Ms. Elizabeth Nduma

The role of institutions and gendered property rights in farmer led irrigation development in Nyando Sub County, Kenya

By 2100 the world population is expected to grow to between 9.6 to 13. 3 billion with food demand projection showing an increase to 98% by 2050. Much of this increase is expected in Africa even as the continent continues to experience increase in population growth and consumption. The challenge that arises therefore is of matching the demand for food with the increasing population.

Several countries are dependent on rainfed agriculture which is determined by the vagaries of weather while about 46% of cultivated areas in the world remain unsuitable for rainfed agriculture. This has been caused by climate change which in turn makes it difficult for countries to meet their food needs. Irrigation has thus been adopted globally and now contributes largely to agricultural land and food production. In Kenya, the focus has been on large scale, commercial and small holder community based irrigation schemes while failing to acknowledge Farmer Led Irrigation Development (FLID).

FLID refers to Irrigation systems initiated, financed owned and/or managed by individual farmers. It recognizes farmers as active changers and developers of commercial agriculture while lacking acknowledgement by governments, policy makers and in development plans. FLID has been growing at a rapid rate and this has led to several challenges including conflicts between water users, pollution, unauthorised use of protected lands, uncontrolled use of water upstream and downstream and challenges in property rights among women. In Kenya, FLID lacks visibility and there is lack of comprehensive information on how its operations are carried out, conflicts resolved and its extent resulting in the lack of knowledge for planning and decision making. Further, institutions within which FLID operates remain largely unknown as institutions in the irrigation sector focus on schemes (government and community based) and private commercial farms. There is thus little information known on how these irrigators abstract water, manage their farms, contribute to the economy, and face challenges that may arise.  Little is known of how interactions are carried out amongst these irrigators and how the question of access and control of resources factors in FLID.  The Kenyan government requires that gender be mainstreamed in all its sectors; however, women still face a challenge with implementation of the government’s policies taking place at a slow pace. This study therefore looks at FLID through a gendered lens with a view to map out the spatial distribution of FLID, to examine the institutions within which FLID carries out its activities and the influence of Gendered Property Rights on FLID in Nyando Sub County.

The study is carried out in Nyando Sub County an area that has been experiencing a decline in the performance of its schemes resulting in low food production. The area boasts one of the oldest irrigation schemes which commenced operations in 1969 and up to date has not managed to irrigate its complete acreage of 4,176 acres currently irrigating 2,586.5 acres. Although efforts have been made in addressing poorly performing schemes within the country, schemes located in Nyando Sub County are lagging behind and irrigators are turning FLID as an alternative.

This study is carried out with a view to grant FLID the recognition it deserves in terms of increase in food production, increase in income, increase of land currently under irrigation and the diversity of crops that are grown as a result. The study also intends to establish the nature of women’s involvement and benefits in this autonomous form of irrigation.

Ms. Loice Loo Onyango

Influence of regulations, infrastructure and gender on food access; an assessment of the food corridors serving Kisumu City, Kenya 

Globally studies have attributed limited urban food access to regulations, infrastructure and gender.  However, other studies in African Agricultural Growth Corridors and Kenya attribute limited urban food access to volatile and high food prices. Nevertheless, these and other studies fail to explicitly elucidate the effect of regulations, infrastructure and gender on food prices. For cities like Kisumu which is the third city of Kenya and also a regional hub, such a link would be instrumental in understanding the recurrent fluctuations in food prices despite close proximity to rich hinterlands; hence this study. The main objective of the study is to determine the influence of regulations, infrastructure and gender on food access within the food corridors of Kisumu city. The findings of this study may be useful to County governments for decision making in planning for urban food security.

Mr. Sammy Shikoli Shileche

Assessment of the integration of urban food systems into the urban planning in Kakemega municipality, Western Kenya

The world is becoming increasingly urbanized and it is projected that by the year 2050, 67% of the world population will be living in cities. Urbanization has resulted into tremendous transformation in urban system dynamics. Urban areas are experiencing shocks and stresses that have deteriorated their resilience ability leading to market failures of food production and supply. Currently, urban areas are consuming over 70% of the global food supply. With no intervention the consumption will have increased and even surpassed the existing food supplies. This calls for an essential sustainable and resilient food system. A decade ago, food system planning was taken to be a stranger in spatial planning. Currently, food system planning is becoming the norm of every planner.

Urban managers have realized that they cannot achieve sustainable urban growth without integrating urban food systems in urban planning.  They are often concerned with the built urban form and economic investments with limited attention on how the urban population feed. However urbanization is the predominant force shaping food systems in urban areas. To realize equitable urban food systems it is vital for urban managers to consider the demands and supplies of foods in urban centers. Kakamega municipality is among the fastest growing areas in Western Kenya. Approximately 95% of the households in Kakamega municipality suffer from food insecurity and with the population growth rate at 2.5%, the demand and consumption rate is expected to increase.

This study seeks to examine how urban food systems can be integrated in urban planning approaches in Kakamega municipality. Food systems are the processes by which food is produced, processed, distributed, retailed, consumed and the associated waste products disposed of, as well as the associated inputs and outputs at each stage. The research will be guided by specific objectives aiming at examining the conventional planning process in Kakamega municipality; assessing the urban food system in Kakamega municipality and evaluating the requirements for integrating urban food system in urban planning in Kakamega municipality.