How University Establishment Influence Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Kenya-A Case of Rongo University, Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

In the last two decades, there has been considerable increase in the establishment of both public and private universities. The expansion has been across the different geographical regions as well as demographically. The increase in the number of universities has resulted in environmental challenges in terms of land use and land cover changes in the areas where they are established owing to increased human settlement, infrastructure development, among other necessities. In most cases informal settlements/ slums have been created as a result of influx of people for various reasons such as employment, businesses and student’s accommodation. Rongo University which was established eight years ago has seen rapid increase in human population and development of infrastructure among others whose environmental impacts are yet to be investigated and quantifies. Therefore, the study sought to investigate how establishment of Rongo University has contributed to land use and land cover change in Rongo Sub-county, Migori County, Kenya with particular focus in North Kanyajuok Sub-Location where the main campus is situated. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. Supervised classification was used to analyze land-use/cover change date generated from GIS and remote sensing which facilitated defining of the training data set/signature that indicated the pixels to be selected and the type of software to be used for land-cover categories. Basing on the results of this study, it has been established that significant land use and land cover changes have taken place which negatively impacted the environment where the university is established. The study has cited increased human settlement and related developments such as infrastructure development in Rongo Sub-County to have made the area highly vulnerable to environmental degradation as a result of modification of natural landscape and ecology to built environment. Decline of indigenous biodiversity during and after establishing the university as well as increased pollution have been reported as causal factors for environmental degradation. Further, developments associated with university establishment has led to overexploitation of natural resources, reduction in the quality and quantity of water, biodiversity and atmospheric air conditions. In the prevailing circumstances, the study recommends adherence to sustainable environmental planning, including land use, waste and pollution management, among other environmental conservation practices.