Determinants of Community Climate Change Awareness in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as a complex challenge in the Lake Victoria Basin. This is due to the basin's geographical and climatic conditions, its high dependence on natural resources, limited capacity to adapt to a rapidly changing climate and frequent natural disasters. This study aimed at examining climate change awareness levels among households in Homa Bay County with a view to guide policy makers   in decision making and management of climate change impacts. A quantitative household based cross-sectional survey questionnaire was used to collect information from three hundred and eighty-four (384) people drawn from the eight sub-counties of Homa Bay County namely Ndhiwa, Homa Bay, Rangwe, Suba, Mbita, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul. Target respondents comprised of men and women aged fifteen to seventy-five years old. This study employed multi-stage sampling technique to select each Primary Sampling Unit (PSU). Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews conducted to fifteen representatives from government and five from non-state actors and four Focused Group Discussions. Primary data was obtained from key informants through interview- schedules and questionnaires while secondary data sources included published research papers and relevant reports. Quantitative data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). For qualitative data, coding was conducted and most prominent themes across the transcripts were identified. The study found out that nearly all respondents (98.7%) indicated that they had experienced at least one extreme weather event a year prior to the interview with over half of the respondents having experienced drought (78%), heavy rains (74%), pests (71%) and high temperatures (51%) while (28%) had experienced flooding. Strong relationships existed between the different levels of education, gender, occupations, age and place of residence. The study recommended national and county level institutions to gather, organize, package and disseminate prompt and targeted audience specific climate change information that is interfaced appropriately with community information structures. This can be done by creation of forums for discussion and innovation of adaptation strategies through radio call-in programs for rural populations in both national and vernacular stations that bring together those with relevant expertise to share their experiences and develop solutions to commonly expressed climate change concerns.