Sand Harvesting, Environmental Degradation and Livelihoods in North Rift Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, thousands of households rely on sand harvesting as their main source of livelihood. Sand harvesting is common in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid areas, but left uncontrolled it depletes water catchment areas, and thus, the need to promote sustainability by striking a balance between it and environmental conservation. This paper illustrates how sand harvesting is affecting the environment in West Pokot County. Findings indicate that sand scooping reduces surface water quality and quantity 251(61%), leads to river bed degradation 311(87.4%), sand harvesting increases erosional valleys 308(86.6%), there is contamination of water and scarcity of water due to sand harvesting 289(81.1%), sand harvesting affects the flow of the river downstream 280(78.7%), reduces land for farming 145(40.7%), storage of sand causes destruction of vegetation cover 214(60%) and destruction of the forest cover 206(48%). The paper concludes that sand harvesting is accompanied by disastrous environmental effects, which raises questions on the cost-benefits and sustainability of the sand harvesting activities in the study area. Consequently, the paper recommends for measures to be put in place to surmount the hazardous environmental effects and enhance the multiplier effects of sand harvesting on livelihood security.