Environmental Challenges in Kenya
Kenya is currently facing a number of environmental challenges mainly as a result of over-exploitation of the available natural resources, pollution and release of wastes into the environment. This has led to degradation of the natural environment. Among the environmental challenges in Kenya are as follows;
1. Pollution
Pollution mainly affects land, water and air. It has had various effects on plants, animal and human health. Inadequate waste treatment facilities and irregular collection and disposal methods have only worked to worsen the situation consequently making the quality of the environment poor.
2. Waste Management
Human activities are the main causes of waste generation. These wastes can be in various forms including solid, liquid or gaseous. Most of these wastes end up being illegally dumped due to lack of proper technologies and facilities for waste management, hence they accumulate in the environment and some are discharged into fresh water as effluent. This has increased environmental and land degradation.
3. Global Warming and Climate Change
Climate change is as a result of the increase of temperatures in the earth's atmosphere most commonly referred to as global warming. The result of this is that we are now experiencing erratic rainfall patterns and extreme weather conditions. Climate change and global warming are said to be the causes of increased flooding, lengthy droughts and rise of the sea level. Most people feel the effects of these in terms of decreased crop harvests, vector borne diseases, damage to infrastructure, contamination of fresh water resources and soil erosion among others.
4. Land Use
Land degradation is caused by poor land use such as improper farming methods. As much as human activities lead to land degradation, natural phenomena also are a contributing factor. It has reduced productivity of the soil, hence affecting people's livelihoods especially those who rely mainly on agriculture, in various ways including soil infertility, poor crop yields, water loss, desertification and loss of biodiversity.
5. Deforestation
Deforestation has been caused by the rampant destruction of forests through illegal logging and excisions. The result of this has been loss of forest cover and the destruction of water catchment areas. Vegetation cover usually acts as natural sinks for carbon dioxide therefore important in cutting of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This means that an increase in deforestation enhances climate change and its impacts such as increased flooding, global warming, droughts, soil erosion etc.
6. Poaching
Illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife trophies has led to an increase in poaching activities in the country. Among the most affected animals include elephants and rhinos. These animals are killed and their horns and tusks removed and sold for ornamental use and also believed to be having medicinal benefits. The Eastern countries have been a major market of these products. The level of poaching has gone to a very high level to an extent that the country's first lady Margaret Kenyatta has initiated the campaign 'Hands off our elephants' which aims at advocating for protection of wildlife especially elephants.
In light of these challenges, there is need for participation of all stakeholders in the issues of environmental conservation and management.
1. Pollution
Pollution mainly affects land, water and air. It has had various effects on plants, animal and human health. Inadequate waste treatment facilities and irregular collection and disposal methods have only worked to worsen the situation consequently making the quality of the environment poor.
2. Waste Management
Human activities are the main causes of waste generation. These wastes can be in various forms including solid, liquid or gaseous. Most of these wastes end up being illegally dumped due to lack of proper technologies and facilities for waste management, hence they accumulate in the environment and some are discharged into fresh water as effluent. This has increased environmental and land degradation.
3. Global Warming and Climate Change
Climate change is as a result of the increase of temperatures in the earth's atmosphere most commonly referred to as global warming. The result of this is that we are now experiencing erratic rainfall patterns and extreme weather conditions. Climate change and global warming are said to be the causes of increased flooding, lengthy droughts and rise of the sea level. Most people feel the effects of these in terms of decreased crop harvests, vector borne diseases, damage to infrastructure, contamination of fresh water resources and soil erosion among others.
4. Land Use
Land degradation is caused by poor land use such as improper farming methods. As much as human activities lead to land degradation, natural phenomena also are a contributing factor. It has reduced productivity of the soil, hence affecting people's livelihoods especially those who rely mainly on agriculture, in various ways including soil infertility, poor crop yields, water loss, desertification and loss of biodiversity.
5. Deforestation
Deforestation has been caused by the rampant destruction of forests through illegal logging and excisions. The result of this has been loss of forest cover and the destruction of water catchment areas. Vegetation cover usually acts as natural sinks for carbon dioxide therefore important in cutting of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This means that an increase in deforestation enhances climate change and its impacts such as increased flooding, global warming, droughts, soil erosion etc.
6. Poaching
Illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife trophies has led to an increase in poaching activities in the country. Among the most affected animals include elephants and rhinos. These animals are killed and their horns and tusks removed and sold for ornamental use and also believed to be having medicinal benefits. The Eastern countries have been a major market of these products. The level of poaching has gone to a very high level to an extent that the country's first lady Margaret Kenyatta has initiated the campaign 'Hands off our elephants' which aims at advocating for protection of wildlife especially elephants.
In light of these challenges, there is need for participation of all stakeholders in the issues of environmental conservation and management.
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