Tana Delta Research Articles

Coral Sr/Ca-SST calibration: SST records from Kenyan corals

To better understand the seasonal variability in SST in Kenyan coral reef ecosystems, Sr/Ca ratios have been measured in Kenyan coral skeletons as proxies of SST, and a new Sr/Ca = f(SST) calibration was established: Sr/Ca = − 0.053 (± 0.006) *SST + 10.43 (± 0.16). The slope was within the margins of − 0.04 and − 0.08 mmolmol−1 °C of previously published Sr/Ca-SST calibration equations. A reliability test revealed that the present calibration equation reproduces a previously published calibration equation developed for Kenyan corals. This calibration was applied to corals collected in reef ecosystems under different natural and anthropogenic influences: Tana Delta Ziwayu Island, Watamu National Marine Park, and Shimon Mupunguti Marine Reserve. Using the developed Sr/Ca-thermometry, the reconstructed Sr/Ca-SST revealed that reefs from the southern basin of the Kenyan Indian Ocean are exposed to warmer SSTs than reefs in the northern Basin are. Additionally, the results revealed that the seasonal variability on SST increased moving toward the southern basin of the Kenyan Indian Ocean. We use the local instrument SST as an SST reference, which is aligned against the Sr/Ca seasonal signals recorded in SMR3-18 (the nearest coral site), and the intensity of the third global coral bleaching (April and May 2016) is affirmed.

Effect Of Animal And Plant Organic Fertilizers On Growth And Yield Of Rice In Tana Delta, Kenya

Rice is the 3rd most consumed cereal in Kenya while production is merely 20% of the demand making the country a net importer of the commodity. With increased global concern on healthy foods, producing more rice to contribute to achieving food secure nation while conforming to environmental sustainability remains a subject of concern in the country. In this case, good agricultural practices are needed to strike the balance. This study was carried out during rice growing season (February – June, 2024) to investigate the effect of basal organic fertilizers; Rich Farm (RF), Han Daebak (BK) and Han Yoobak (MK) on growth and yield of AT054 and Komboka rice varieties in Tana Delta Irrigation Project-Rice (TDIP-R) Scheme during the trial Phase undertaken by Agri All Africa (AAA) in preparation for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project programme. The study was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Rich Farm (RF) at 200 Kg/Ha, Han Daebak (BK) at 200 Kg/Ha and Han Yoobak (MK) at 200 Kg/Ha were applied as basal fertilizers. Conventional fertilizers (200 Kg/Ha DAP + 120 Kg/Ha MOP) was applied as the positive standard check (CF). Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The basal application of Rich Farm, Han Daebak and Han Yoobak organic fertilizers had significant positive effects on grain yield. Among the tested basal fertilizers, Rich Farm performed better at 4.9 and 5.3 ton/ha, followed by Han Yoobak at 4.7 and 4.1 ton/ha and Han Daebak at 4.3 and 3.9 ton/ha in AT054 and Komboka variety, respectively. Therefore, Rich Farm and Han Yoobak can be recommended as basal organic fertilizers in both AT054 and Komboka varieties, while Han Daebak can be used in AT054 variety for rice production. Further studies are of need to investigate the effects on these organic fertilizers on the soil properties of the area, as well as evaluating the optimal rates for higher rice production

Vulnerability to climate change of coastal mangrove-dependent communities in the Tana Delta, Kenya: a local perspective

Coastal mangrove-dependent communities face various risks due to climate change, thus rendering them vulnerable. This study explored the vulnerability of these communities in the Tana Delta in Kenya using an indicator-based vulnerability assessment framework to better understand their exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Data was collected through household surveys (n = 377), focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). The analysis revealed mean vulnerability indices at the sub-location level ranged from 0.850 for Kipini to − 0.913 for Kilelengwani and − 2.702 for Ozi. The statistically significant indicators of vulnerability were (i) exposure—high temperatures and rainfall changes; (ii) sensitivity—household numbers, head of household’s age, dependents’ education, and dependents’ employment; and (iii) adaptive capacity—ownership of assets, access to community infrastructure and services, condition/quality of houses, total income, and alternative sources of income. The findings highlight the need for adaptation strategies that ensure greater financial assets supported by education and skills enhancement to utilize existing opportunities. Attention to community infrastructure and services is crucial. Policy should focus on financial, physical, and human assets to reduce community vulnerability alongside the continued conservation and management of mangrove resources. The results will help policymakers in addressing the impacts of climate change and benefit households in the study area. These insights can be applied to regions with similar climate conditions and livelihood systems.

Determinants of Children’s Enrollment in Selected Pre-Schools in Tana Delta Sub County, Tana River County, Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of the Study is to gather useful information on the determinants of children’s enrollment in pre-schools, the study was guided by the following research question “How do parents’ attitudes towards pre-school education influence pre-school enrollment?” Literature was reviewed under the following sub heading; parents’ attitude towards early learning and pre-school enrollment.
 Methodology: The researcher employed use of survey method to gather data, simple random was used in sampling respondents.
 Findings: The study found out that Parents’ Attitude towards Pre-School influences children’s enrolment as majority (75%) of the parents in the study indicated that pre-school education was important to the child. This shows that majority of parents had a positive perception of pre-school education.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The researcher recommended that the government should include pre-schools into free primary education and financially support the school feeing program. The County Director of Education Mr M ashengu was a worried person in the declining enrolment of early learners, a view shared by the Director of Preschools, Tana-River County, Mr Abdi Bantta that that the two provided excellent support in solving the puzzle and delve into ways that will significantly reduce the costs incurred by parents’ thereby encouraging increased enrollment.

Adoption of Sanitation Technologies in Tana Delta Sub-County, Kenya: The Environmental Factors’ Influence

Adoption of Sanitation Technologies in Tana Delta Sub-County, Kenya: The Environmental Factors’ Influence

Perceptions of climate variability and change in coastal Kenya: The case of mangrove-dependent communities in the Lower Tana Delta

Climate change has become a global concern with substantial impacts in all regions, especially coastal communities. In response, coastal communities take different adaptation strategies to minimise the negative impacts of climate change. Understanding climate change from the perspective of local communities can provide valuable insights into policy and strategy planning for the unprecedented consequences of climate change. Data was gathered in three sub-locations through a questionnaire survey (365 households), four (4) focus group discussions (FGDs) and eleven (11) key informant interviews (KIIs). We also explored meteorological data to understand better the local significance of climate variability and climate change. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyse the data. The results show that local communities perceived changes in climate variables, consistent with meteorological data, pointing to a significant decline in rainfall and increased temperatures since the 1980s. The communities also highlighted climate-related events such as floods, droughts, saltwater intrusion, and coastal erosion, expressing concern that these were rising. The perceived changes in the climatic variables have led to a decline in crop yields, fish catch, and water quantity, an increase in drought duration and intensity, and plant and animal diseases. Targeted efforts are required, given the likely magnitude of future climate change.

Influence of Islamic Religious Practices on The Academic Performance of Muslim Female Students in Secondary Schools In Tana Delta Sub-County, Kenya

Influence of Islamic Religious Practices on The Academic Performance of Muslim Female Students in Secondary Schools In Tana Delta Sub-County, Kenya

Ecological risk assessment on nutrient over-enrichment in water quality: A case study of the Kenyan Coral Reef ecosystems

The natural (seasonality) and anthropogenic drivers (e.g., coastal developments and change in land-use practices), continue to threaten the lives of organisms in shallow marine environments by compromising water quality. A case study was conducted to assess the impact of these drivers on nutrient over-enrichments using water and sediment samples that were collected from healthy live Porites spp. colonies from three Kenyan coral reef ecosystems: Tana Delta, Watamu, and Shimoni Mupunguti Reef. The evaluated nutrient over-enrichment levels were above the universal reference background concentrations of 0.01 and 0.003 mg/L for (N-(NO3- + NO2-)) and (P-PO43-) respectively. Ecological risk exposure to nutrient over-enrichments was evaluated using Renfield (N/P) ratio and nitrogen-phosphorous pollution index. Results on N/P ratios were < the Renfield ratio (N/P = 16 ratios), implying that phosphorous was in surplus in water columns in all the three reefs investigated. The nitrogen pollution indices were between > 0.85 to ˂ 2.45, while that of phosphorous, the pollution indices were < 0.5. The nutrient over-enrichment followed the order; Watamu > Tana Delta > Shimoni Mupunguti coral reef ecosystem. To identify the possible sources of the nutrient influx in the investigated coral reef ecosystems, a principal component analysis was carried out, and results revealed that anthropogenic activities e.g., tourism, coastal cities urbanization and change in land use practices accounted for 36.26%, while seasonality accounted for 17.82% of the total nutrients influx in the investigated coral reefs.

Becoming flood insecure: Lessons from village level experiences in Tana Delta, Kenya

Floods affect the human security conditions of floodplain residents. The aim of this paper is to explore how residents of the Tana River Delta in Kenya become flood insecure. This paper utilises assemblage theory, particularly the principles of rhizomatic multiplicity to explain the concept of becoming flood insecure. It combines these rhizomatic multiplicity principles with disruptions to the pillars of human security which are becoming afraid, becoming wanting and becoming undignified and their composite conditions of human insecurity to create an analytical framework with which to understand becoming flood insecure. The study sources its data from Focus Group Discussions in 10 sampled villages in the Tana River Delta. The results reveal that becoming flood insecure is a rhizomatic multiplicity and that the pillars and conditions of human security that comprise it are heterogenous and interconnected. The results reveal the conditions of human insecurity in the Tana River Delta as personal, food, water, fuel, housing, health, environment, and political. They also reveal that while children become more flood insecure, they are also the most adaptive. Additionally, the results show that there are transitory conditions of human insecurity, food, housing health, to which people attempt to find local solutions and redundant conditions of human insecurity, political, health, water, personal and environment, to which people cannot find local solutions and public action is required.

The Decision Tree Aided Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Characterization of the Stochastic Hydrology of the Tana Alluvial Aquifer

The Tana Alluvial Aquifer is the name given to the little-understood aquifer which is active in the areas bordering the River Tana Flow course as the river weaves its way through the sedimentary plains of Balambala, Garissa, Fafi and Ijara and, finally, into the Tana Delta areas, with the common denominator being the proximity to the Lower Tana catchment, especially the riparian corridor of the River itself, and beyond. The aquifer may extend to between five to fifteen kilometers away from the river channels course way, and at times, it may be felt even 20 kilometers away. The geology of the locality is heterogeneous and comprise sediments whose soil mechanics may not be easily deciphered, since some areas close to the river have very fresh water while others are saline (Bura East in Fafi Sub County easily comes to mind here). There are areas far from the river but bearing fresh water (Mulanjo comes to mind). In some areas, sites close to the river discharge low yield figures, whereas those located farther afield discharge favorably. The water quality and discharge are therefore stochastic variables, subject to chance occurrence. In view of this inconsistency, and on the account of data scarcity, the neuro-fuzzy inference algorithm was developed to map the Universe of Discourse of the Tana Alluvial Aquifer, aka the T.A.A., as it relates to the longitudes, latitudes, depths, and discharges of the aquifers in the study area. The mapping was with respect to aquifer discharge, the variable used to characterize an aquifer, in terms of Transmissivity and Hydraulic Conductivity, thereby defining aquifer recharge propensity. Membership functions were developed using the trapezoidal membership family, and fuzzy rules were appropriately evolved from the fuzzified aquifer data, before finally employing the Sugeno inference engines (in Python) to make predictions of discharge, at each of the T.A.A. aquifer subsets mapped for fresh, saline, hard and brackish water species. The accuracy in the outputs achieved in the areas mapped vindicated the power of the neuro-fuzzy inference systems, as the accuracy oscillated between 92 and 99 percent, when the discharge values predicted were compared with the actual known discharge values of the wells mapped. The water quality class characterization was then undertaken using the decision tree (DT) algorithm in python which gave rise to a 100 percent prediction accuracy. The same DT algorithm could not successfully predict the discrete values of aquifer discharge or EC values, with as much accuracy (but performed excellently with salinity class data), and that was why fuzzy logic was employed. The study vindicated the use of the DT and Fuzzy Logic Algorithms as simple, yet powerful analytical tools, in characterizing the Stochastic Hydrology of the Tana Alluvial Aquifer.

The Origins of Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Politics and Violence in Darfur, Oromia, and the Tana Delta

The Origins of Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Politics and Violence in Darfur, Oromia, and the Tana Delta

Energizing Comparative Environmental Politics and Comparative Political Economy

Energizing Comparative Environmental Politics and Comparative Political Economy

The legacy of vulnerability to floods in the Tana River, Kenya

Floods are the most recurring, widespread, disastrous, and frequent natural hazards in the world. This paper aims to understand vulnerability among ethnic groups living in areas prone to floods because of historical development and implementation of laws and policies. I use the Tana River County in Kenya as a case study to answer the question: what role have economic development policies, laws, and their implementation played in the propagation of drivers of vulnerability through history? I apply the Integrated Approach to Natural Hazards by establishing the previous and current influence of economic development policies on physical, structural, and social dimensions of floods among the region's vulnerable inhabitants. Vulnerability to floods is the long-term culmination of enacted economic development policies and laws that can be ascertained through a review of historical records. To explore the historical narrative of Tana River County, I searched through archived county-specific historical records. To determine the present narrative, I collected data from inhabitants of purposively sampled villages of Tana Delta Sub-County using focus group discussions and I administered key informant interviews to government and non-governmental organizations located in Tana River County. I report that the implementation and institution of economic development policy and legal frameworks under both colonial and post-colonial governments have directly influenced physical, structural, and social dimensions of floods by both increasing vulnerability and producing new forms of vulnerability for floodplain inhabitants. This understanding is vital to local, national, and regional administrators involved in development and implementation of current and future hazard management strategies.

Becoming Flood Insecure: Lessons from Village Level Experiences in Tana Delta, Kenya

Becoming Flood Insecure: Lessons from Village Level Experiences in Tana Delta, Kenya

Characterisation of artisanal catches in selected fishing areas of the Lower Tana Delta and Malindi-Ungwana Bay, Kenya

Shore-based assessment of fisheries resources in Ngomeni, Kipini and Ozi fishing areas of Malindi-Ungwana Bay and the Lower Tana Delta on the north coast of Kenya was conducted from January to December 2017 to establish catch composition, species richness, and fishing effort (catch-rate, number and types of fishing gears and crafts) in the marine, estuarine and riverine habitats. Distinct catch composition (R = 0.27, P &lt; 0.05) was observed across the three habitats. Catch composition differed significantly spatially and seasonally across the three fishing areas, and between the north east (NE) and south east (SE) monsoon seasons (R = 0.332, P &lt; 0.05). The wolf herring, Chirocentrus dorab, was the most abundant fish species in Ngomeni, centrally located in Malindi-Ungwana Bay, while the catfishes, Arius africanus and Clarias gariepinus, were the most abundant species in Kipini and Ozi, respectively. Gillnets operated from dhows (mashua) and fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats in Ngomeni (marine), and canoes using-basket traps in Ozi (riverine), landed significantly larger Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus commerson, and sea catfish, Arius africanus (Kruskal Wallis test: Df = 2; F = 197.141; p &lt; 0.001; Df = 2, F = 490, p &lt; 0.001), respectively. Species diversity by area in combination with habitat and type of fishing craft showed higher diversity for Ngomeni in the marine habitat with mashua fishing crafts than in Kipini. Significantly different catch rates (Df = 2, F = 10.43, p&lt;0.001; Df = 1, F = 5.897, p &lt; 0.021) were observed in the three (3) fishing areas and during the NE monsoon and the SE monsoon, respectively. Canoes were the most common fishing craft used, especially in Ngomeni, accounting for 37.1%, and 97.5% in Ozi, while mashua crafts accounted for 44.5% of the total fishing craft in Kipini. Monofilament nets were most common in Ngomeni (34.0%) while basket traps dominated the Ozi site at 63.6%. The Kipini area was dominated by handlines (28.8%). It is therefore evident that the three (3) fishing areas of the Malindi-Ungwana Bay and Lower Tana Delta showed significant differences in catch composition and size of fish caught, attributed partly to the variation in habitat types and fishing methods between the sites. Overall, the Ngomeni area was characterized by more advanced fishing craft with the majority powered by engines, including mashua and FRP boats, compared to Kipini and Ozi fishing areas where canoes were dominant.

Book review: Tsega Etafa, The Origins of Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Politics and Violence in Darfur, Oromia, and the Tana Delta, African Histories and Modernities

Tsega Etafa, The Origins of Ethnic Conflict in Africa: Politics and Violence in Darfur, Oromia, and the Tana Delta, African Histories and Modernities. Switzerland AG: Springer Nature, 2019, p. 271, Hardback, ISBN: 978-3-030-10539-6.

Yearning for an Apple: The Changing Lifestyle of the Tana River Delta Communities in Kenya and Implications on Livelihoods and Conservation of Natural Resources

Tana River Delta is occupied predominantly by pastoral and farming communities that inhabit defined zones in the Delta. A study was undertaken to assess changes in the lifestyle of communities living in the Delta and its implications on livelihoods and conservation of natural resources. Literature review, household questionnaires, social and resource mapping, key informant interviews, village-based focus group discussion and structured observations were used to collect data. It was evident that the delta communities are aware of the delta resources, their uses, utilization and best management options. Additionally, they were knowledgeable on the delta resources use by non-residents, the resultant conflicts and the food status in the community. They had a good understanding of the new food they would wish to have in their diets and the means of accessing them. Modernity has pushed the community to yearn for development (“Yearn for an Apple”) to access foods that other parts of the country are eating, with implications on livelihoods and conservation of Delta resources. Reversing degradation and enhancing the development of the Delta area require the involvement of all stakeholders, informing and seeking the consensus of decision-makers and the real users of the Tana delta. The Government has to provide overall security and development.

Climate Variability and Small-Scale Fisheries in Kenya: Characterization of Current Socio- Economic Conditions of Artisanal Fishing Communities in Ungwana Bay and the Lower Tana Delta

Small-scale coastal fishing communities in the tropics have varied responses to climate variability constraints. These responses are often part of the different ways in which communities build adaptive capacity and resilience against internal and external stresses in their bid to reduce the impacts of prevailing and projected weather conditions. It is widely accepted that small-scale coastal fishing communities depend on fisheries resources for their livelihood. If these resources are increasingly becoming scarce as a result of climate variability pressure, a natural question to ask revolves around the ability of these fishing communities to employ alternative livelihood strategies.

Assessment of ecological vulnerability to climate variability on coastal fishing communities: A study of Ungwana Bay and Lower Tana Estuary, Kenya

Fisheries resources are important in supporting the livelihood of many coastal communities especially in the developing tropical countries. Fisheries resources however, continue to face unprecedented pressure from the impacts of climate change, and this presents both ecological and socio-economic challenges to the dependent communities. This paper assessed the ecological vulnerability to climate variability of artisanal fishing communities in Ungwana Bay and the Lower Tana Delta in Kenya, using selected fin fish species. A combination of approaches were adopted and used to identify and determine exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation indicators. These included a critical review of existing literature, socio-economic survey, and computation of temperature and rainfall variation using long term data from 1983 to 2015. The method of Equal Weights (EW) was applied to all indicators after normalization. The data was normalized in a scale of 0–1, where 0 indicated low vulnerability level and 1 high vulnerability. By using composite index, the selected Ngomeni and Ozi fishing communities within the larger Ungwana Bay and Lower Tana Delta indicated high levels of vulnerability of 0.9 and 0.8 respectively. Due to high vulnerability level and poor adaptation capacity by the local fishing communities in the selected study sites, we recommend government and non-governmental agencies to reinforce community based organizations (CBOs) activities on ecological conservation and social network creation to promote short and long term adaptation measures.

Problems of public participation in the Ramsar CEPA programme at the Tana Delta, Kenya

This research examines the problems of public participation in conserving a Ramsar site at the Tana Delta in southeastern Kenya. Given no participation of the public in government initiatives so far, we attempted to find out what had prevented local people from cooperating with responsible government bodies. Using empirical evidence that we obtained from fieldworks, questionnaire surveys, and workshops, we found that the low participation was not mainly due to local people’s unwillingness to conserve natural resources. Instead, we found that they were strongly interested in wetland resources conservation as long as their customary rights to governing resources are sufficiently recognized. We also documented how these local people managed their resources. The Kenya Wildlife Service and the National Museum of Kenya are the main government bodies to promote public participation, but we found that these agencies had not done effective communication works among local people. Our survey then clarified what sources of information can be most effective in communicating with local people in the Tana Delta. Finally, we discuss how the problems of public participation can be solved or reduced.