EFFECTS OF INFORMAL SETTLEMENT ON THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT AT MAJENGO SLUMS, NAROK COUNTY

Abstract

ABSTRACT People residing in informal settlements face challenges of service delivery. This is mainly due to the fact that land was occupied illegally, thus impacting negatively on the environment. It was in the background of the above problem, that this study sought to establish the influence of informal settlement on the surrounding environment. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: To establish the extent of informal settlement in Majengo Slums, Narok County, to find out the causes of informal settlement in Majengo Slums, Narok County, to assess the effects of informal settlement on the environment in Majengo Slums, Narok County and to determine the policy measures to reduce informal settlements in Majengo Slums, Narok County. The study will be of great value to the government in the formulation of policies and strategies for controlling informal settlement and in addition researchers and scholars will use the study to provide the basis of future studies. To provide the basis of the study findings, the researcher relied on the following theories: Malthusian Theory of Population Growth, The Optimum Theory and Theory of Demographic Transition. Data was collected using questionnaires and guides from 96 household heads obtained through cluster sampling in Majengo Slum and 5 key informants purposively selected. It was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel Package presented in tables percentages. The study found out that 40.4% majorly agreed with the various causes of the informal settlement, further 42.8% of the settlers in Majengo, agreed with various causes of the informal settlement. The study also determined that averagely 55% of the Majengo settlers agreed with the various measures of curbing informal settlement. Finally, on the effect of informal settlement, it was determined that 43.2% of the Majengo settlers strongly agreed with these statements. The study recommended the inclusion zoning, land readjustment and expropriation as some of the strategies and policies required by the government to reduce informal settlement in Majengo Slum