Stephen Gaya Agong

Assessing Water- Based Recreational Activities to Project Beach Ecotourism Potentials in Kisumu County

This paper presents discussions on observed scenarios that characterize water-based recreational activities with an aim of laying grounds for appreciating relationships that enhance or hamper ecotourism development in Lake Victoria, Kisumu County. The study was premised from an argument that lake water resources demonstrate prospects for activities like swimming, boating, sunbathing, skiing, recreational fishing and visual amenities among others. The study was conducted through observations and confirmatory follow up queries from relevant stakeholders along Lake Victoria from Asat, Ogal, Usoma and Lwangni beaches of Lake Victoria. The main objective was to examine existing trends of water-based activities in relation to ecotourism and envisage potentials of each beach water front for recreation in Kisumu County. Thus, this paper presents results of a systematic synthesis of interactions between lake (surface) water and outdoor recreation, a significant socioeconomic subsystem. The study maps out characteristics of accessible water front areas, popularly known as beaches, for their ecological sensitivity and ascertains the possibility of the sites to be planned or augmented to facilitate ecotourism development. Findings reveal the spatial potential of the sites but with gaps that intimidate possible popularity of ecotourism industry due to intentional human activities, negligence and perceptions. The existing technical and scientific knowledge on Lake Victoria Basin has been boosted by this study; hence, results and recommendations potentially enable academic institutions, development agencies and Kisumu County Government to seriously begin ecotourism development, which has

Energy recovery from municipal solid waste

ABSTRACT Kisumu City is fast urbanizing. Implying that challenges posed by improper management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are increasing at both Kibuye market and Kachok dumpsite, within the City. This is a great hazard to inhabitants in terms of health and environment. This far, the City has been concentrating on addressing the issue of inadequate clean water supply, water hyacinth menace, sewerage management, to mention but a few. No special attention has been given to recover energy from MSW. This is very important as it will help to tackle the ever increasing volumes of MSW both at source of generation (Kibuye market) and disposal (Kachok dumpsite) and thus relieve the need for more land spaces for waste disposal, lessen potential methane emission sites and even provide cheap energy to the household(s), available market (s), and City at large. This paper discusses the potential of recovering energy using available techniques/technologies based on characteristics of MSW in Kisumu City as well as related economics. Various literature reviews, interview-based questionnaire, field survey observations provide evidence for these. The economics of embracing briquetting/palletization technology are briefly reviewed; success of briquetting solely relies on partnering amongst all key stakeholders. Also, this review offers any would-be investor(s) and/or researcher valuable information needed to invest in other waste management practices and/or glaring information gap that requires further interrogation in form of research.

Positioning ecotourism destinations in Kisumu County: Cultural Diversity Perspective

Positioning of ecotourism destination is crucial to survival and success of business value chain of the cultural sites as alternative source of livelihood of the local communities in Kisumu County. This paper sought to establish significant factors to consider in branding cultural sites as ecotourism destinations for sustainable livelihood in Kisumu County and its environs. This study was anchored on Place Branding Theory and Social Exchange Theory. The study adopted descriptive embedded case design and cross-sectional survey in the three selected units of analysis methodology with both quantitative and qualitative approaches to source and analyze data. The finding established that positioning of ecotourism destinations will increase visitations in Kisumu County and create business value chain opportunities for sustainable source of livelihood.

Kachok Dumpsite Characteristics and Its Future – A Third Kenyan City Perspective

47 Counties inclusive of Kisumu were created as regional administrative units by the Kenyan constitution 2010. The County Government immediately redirected Solid Wastes from other county’s townships to be disposed at the existing 2.73 ha Kachok dumpsite. However, the disposal of solid wastes by observation from collection, transportation to dumping has been having challenges. A compelling aim to re-assess the dumpsite arose to determine if it satisfies minimum siting standards, characteristics and potential for the County. Findings show the dump is not properly sited and is at 10% or lower collection rate of the city’s wastes since the 1970’s, it is full beyond capacity/potential and a nuisance. The rate indicates need for improved planning, regulation and enforcement for the city and the county. The average dump composition in the order of plastics, glasses and organic matter is 34.7, 13.8 and 51.8% and weight per volume that varied by depth/age with an estimated volume of 6853 m3. It has high carbon content (>2%) and heavy metals have not found their way into the groundwater system. Presence of NO3 though shows groundwater pollution is taking place. Air quality parameters exhibited similar trends with higher concentrations over the dumpsite, reducing outward with the nearby sensitive receptors impacted. The dumpsite should be relocated with caution and use of its organic contents directed to agriculture. The other possible uses such as extraction of energy and recycling of waste contents may need review as dumps depository potential is outlived.