ECONOMIC VALUATION OF MOIBEN RIVER POLLUTION AND IMPROVED DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY IN ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

As the demand for water in rural Kenya keep increasing due to high population growth, the quality of its supply is being compromised by agriculture related degradation. This study investigated the economic valuation of Moiben river degradation and domestic water supply to the surrounding community for sustainable protection. It employed Contingent Valuation Method to measure the objectives of study which includes; assessing the economic significance of Moiben river to nearby households; examine the relationship of agricultural productivity on degradation of Moiben River; estimating the willingness to pay and factors that influences the likelihood of Willingness To Pay responses for river protection and water supply. A sample of 384 households living along Moiben river in Elgeyo /Marakwet County was studied. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data. To achieve the total value, contingent market scenario was established. Results indicated that Majority of the respondents owns land below 10 acres while minority owns 41 acres and above. Majority of the residents use the river for domestic purposes. Moiben River has played a fundamental role in the lives of the people of Marakwet West. Agriculture is one of the main sources of water pollution. The average amount residents were willing to pay for river protection was Ksh 170 and an addition Ksh 196 for water supply. Based on the results, it was found that there was no statistically significant relationship between Willingness to Pay and age, gender, marital status, education, employment, land size, monthly income and distance from the river as determined by Pearson Correlation. Moreover, the results show that there was statistical significant relationship between household size and WTP as determined by Pearson Correlation. The study recommends that residents be sensitized on environmental protection to adequately address any potential environmental problems associated to water degradation from human activities. Since that there is willingness to pay for domestic water supply, the Government need to consider providing treated piped water