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Socio-Economic Benefits of Kingwal Wetland to the Local People

Chepkwony Gladys Cherono, Ipara Hellen and Odwori Paul Okelo

Kingwal wetland in Nandi County, Kenya provides numerous benefits to the local people. No research has been done to analyse and document its benefits to the local people to enable people appreciates and hence minimizes its destruction. The objective of the study was to determine the benefits derived by the local people from Kingwal wetland. Descriptive research design was employed in this study. Structured questionnaires, personal interviews, focused group discussions and field observations were used in data collection. Questionnaires were administered to 240 respondents obtained through systematic random sampling of households. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square goodness-of-fit test. Results showed that 88.3% of the people derived various benefits from the wetland ranging from commercial benefits to nutrient benefits. A higher number of local people derived commercial benefits (42.5%) as compared to the rest. Chi-square goodness-of-fit test showed that commercial ; recreational ; nutritional ; water and socio-cultural benefits were significant. The study has revealed that Kingwal wetland provides numerous benefits to the local people and that commercial benefit is highest compared to the other benefits. The study recommends that a strong, active conservation-based educational program should be set and implemented to create awareness to the local people on how they can participate in managing the wetland in order to obtain more benefits from it.