Browsing by Author "Maobe, Samson"

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  • Publication
    Publication
    Farmers’ Attitude On Different Watershed Management Practices: A Case of Tende and Kibuon Catchments in South West, Kenya
    (International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2020-11-11) Mulwale, Catherine; Basweti, Evans; Ochola, Washington; Maobe, Samson
    Watershed degradation is an example of natural resource degradation that affects environment and food security negatively. Integrated Land and Watershed Management Project in Kibuon and Tende catchments (ILWMKTP) ran from 2009 to 2014. The programme focused on reduction of degradation by using soil and water conservation practices. The survey was carried out in Kisii, Nyamira and Homa Bay Counties which were purposively selected since they implemented the project. The study was an ex post facto research design which used cross sectional survey approach that applied qualitative and quantitative data collection procedures. The survey targeted a population of 9,475 respondents who implemented ILWMKTP project while the accessible population was 370 farmers who were proportionately selected through simple random method. The survey used a questionnaire and an interview schedule to collect data from farmers and key informants. A research tool was used to gather data on attitude farmers’ in terms of practices used to control watershed degradation. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25. There were significant differences in levels of positive attitude on watershed management practices. Responses captured were rated on a five point likert scale and frequencies were run for respondents who agreed on positive statements on the practices and their percentages were between fifty one and seventy one percent. This implied that respondents had different levels of positive attitude on watershed management practices in the catchments.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Hydrogeophysical Characterization of a Weathered-Fractured Aquifer System: A Case Study of Olbanita, Lower Baringo Basin, Kenya Rift
    (Scientific Research, 2019-11) Sosi, Benjamin; Barongo, Justus; Getabu, Albert; Maobe, Samson
    Groundwater yields in the Kenya Rift are highly unsustainable owing to geological variability. In this study, field hydraulic characterization was performed by using geo-electric approaches. The relations between electrical–hydraulic (eh) conductivities were modeled hypothetically and calibrated empirically. Correlations were based on the stochastic models and field-scale hydraulic parameters were contingent on pore-level parameters. By considering variation in pore-size distributions over eh conduction interval, the relations were scaled-up for use at aquifer-level. Material-level electrical conductivities were determined by using Vertical Electrical Survey and hydraulic conductivities by analyzing aquifer tests of eight boreholes in the Olbanita aquifer located in Kenya rift. VES datasets were inverted by using the computer code IP2Win. The main result is that InT = 0.537(1nFa) + 3.695, the positive gradient indicating eh conduction through pore-surface networks and a proxy of weathered and clayey materials. An inverse (1/F-K) correlation is observed. Hydraulic parameters determined using such approaches may possibly contribute significantly towards sustainable yield management and planning of groundwater resources.
  • Publication
    Publication
    Relationship Between Aquifer Processes and Groundwater Quality: A Case of Olbanita Aquifer System, Lower Baringo Basin, Kenya Rift
    (Sage Journals, 2019-01-01) Sosi, Benjamin; Getabu, Albert; Maobe, Samson; Barongo, Justus
    A hydrogeochemical relation has been hypothesized through the analyses of physiochemical data of a fractured volcanic rock aquifer located in the Lower Baringo Basin, Kenyan Rift. Data sets included 15 individual metrics determined in 42 dry and wet season water samples obtained from 6 boreholes in the area. Aquifer evolutionary theory was postulated using sequential principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. To eliminate the effects of scale dimensionality, PCA decomposed the variable data into 4 factors, namely, electrical conductivity, salinity, alkalinity, and carbonate equilibrium with external pH control for the dry season and salinity, carbonate equilibrium with external pH control, alkalinity, and electrical conductivity for the wet season. The main result depicted a major shift in the variability factor from electrolytic conductivity (34.8%) in the dry season to salinity (23.5%) in the wet season. Ward’s linkage cluster analysis partitioned the aquifer into 2 spatially discrete associations; the western and the eastern entities, respectively, in spite of their shared recharge area. These agglomerative scheduling validated in an integrative approach (with groundwater flow predictions using a calibrated petrophysical groundwater model for the area) linked the 4 factors to aquifer processes and 3 pathways: fault permeability, weathering processes, and water-rock interaction. Statistical approaches are, therefore, useful in the conceptualization of pollutant sources and their attenuation for effective groundwater quality management.