International Journal of Education, Science and Social Sciences

Original Articles

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026)

Household-Level Anthropogenic Activities Contributing to Weather Variability: A Case Study of Migori County

Published
2026-05-09

Abstract

This study examined household-level anthropogenic activities contributing to weather variability in Migori County, Kenya. The objective was to establish how selected household practices influence local weather patterns, with emphasis on rainfall and temperature variability. The study was guided by Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Framework. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting approximately 10,000 households across Awendo, Uriri, and Nyatike sub-counties. A sample of 384 households was selected using Yamane’s formula, with 310 valid responses obtained (80.7% response rate). Stratified and systematic sampling techniques were used for household selection, while purposive sampling identified key informants. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, while secondary data on rainfall and temperature trends (2011–2023) were obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Department. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Findings indicated that household activities such as biomass fuel use (90% reliance on firewood), land clearing through burning (50%), overgrazing (60% reported continuous grazing), and intensive cultivation (47.7% of households fully utilizing land for crops) were widely practiced in the study area. Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships between anthropogenic activities and weather variability, with land clearing (r = .742) and biomass fuel use (r = .706) showing the strongest associations. Regression results revealed that household activities significantly predicted weather variability (R² = 0.663, p < 0.001), with land clearing (β = .389), biomass fuel use (β = .341), overgrazing (β = .297), and intensive cultivation (β = .241) all contributing significantly. Historical climate analysis further confirmed significant rainfall (p = 0.0002) and temperature (p = 0.031) variability over the study period. The study concludes that household-level anthropogenic activities significantly contribute to weather variability in Migori County through vegetation loss, greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation, and disruption of local hydrological processes. The findings highlight the need for sustainable household energy use, improved land management practices, and strengthened environmental awareness programs to reduce climate-related risks at the local level.

References

  1. Ahmed, M. H., & Melesse, K. A. (2018). Impact of off-farm activities on technical efficiency: Evidence from maize producers in eastern Ethiopia. Agricultural and Food Economics, 6(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-018-0098-0
  2. Amadou, D., & Diakarya, B. (2021). Analysis of the evolution of agroclimatic risks in a context of climate variability in the region of Segou in Mali. arXiv preprint arXiv:2106.12571. https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.12571
  3. Center for Strategic and International Studies. (2025). Kenya's green leadership: Shaping Africa's climate future. https://www.csis.org/analysis/kenyas-green-leadership-shaping-africas-climate-future
  4. Chambers, R., & Conway, G. (1992). Sustainable rural livelihoods: Practical concepts for the 21st century (IDS Discussion Paper 296). Institute of Development Studies, Brighton. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=1587485
  5. Chisika, S. N., Park, J., & Yeom, C. (2021). Paradox of Deadwood Circular Bioeconomy in Kenya’s Public Forests. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7051. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137051
  6. County Government of Migori. (2024). Migori County participatory climate risk assessment (PCRA) final report. https://maarifa.cog.go.ke/sites/default/files/2024-06/R-PCRA_FINAL_REPORT%5B1%5D.pdf
  7. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
  8. DFID. (1999). Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets. Department for International Development, London. https://www.livelihoodscentre.org/documents/114097690/114438878/Sustainable+livelihoods+guidance+sheets.pdf/594e5ea6-99a9-2a4e-f288-cbb4ae4bea8b?t=1569512091877
  9. Doss, C. (2014). If women hold up half the sky, how much of the world’s food do they produce? FAO: Women in Agriculture
  10. du Plessis, A. (2018). Climate change: Current drivers, observations and impacts on the Globe’s natural and human systems. In Water as an inescapable risk: Current global water availability, quality and risks with a specific focus on South Africa (pp. 27-53). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  11. Elbasiouny, H., El-Ramady, H., Elbehiry, F., Rajput, V. D., Minkina, T., & Mandzhieva, S. (2022). Plant nutrition under climate change and soil carbon sequestration. Sustainability, 14(2), 914. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020914
  12. Farmonaut. (2025). Deforestation's shocking effects on Kenya agriculture. https://farmonaut.com/africa/deforestation-effects-7-shocking-kenya-agriculture-impacts
  13. Huduma Global. (2026). The charcoal economy in Kenya: Livelihoods, deforestation, and the transition to clean cooking energy. https://hudumaglobal.com/blog/kenya-charcoal-economy-deforestation-clean-cooking-energy
  14. Jung, J., & Huxham, M. (2018). Firewood usage and indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fires in Gazi Bay, Kenya. Bioscience Horizons: The International Journal of Student Research, 11, hzy014. https://doi.org/10.1093/biohorizons/hzy014
  15. Kariuki, G. M., Baaru, M. W., & Muriithi, J. K. (2024). Analysis of climate variability trends and local perceptions in Kieni West Sub-County, Kenya. African Journal of Climate Change and Resource Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.37284/ajccrs.4.1.3175
  16. Kenya Meteorological Department. (2023). State of the climate report 2023. https://meteo.go.ke/publications/state-of-the-climate-report-2023/
  17. Kerich, E. C., Aaron, N. C., Kendagor, R. J., Tarus, S., Awino, M., Kanake, M. K., ... & Kinyua, J. N. (2025). Socio Economic, Health and Ecosystems Vulnerabilities to Climate Change in Rural Areas in Kenya: Implications for Human Capacity Resilience. Prevention and Treatment of Natural Disasters, 4(1), 265-298.
  18. Kitheka, P. (2019). Impacts of Deforestation on Climate and Implications on Food Production in South West Mau (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
  19. Kogo, B. K., Kumar, L., & Koech, R. (2021). Climate change and variability in Kenya: A review of impacts on agriculture and food security. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(1), 23-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00989-1
  20. Kotikot, S. M., Smithwick, E. A., & Greatrex, H. (2024). Observations of enhanced rainfall variability in Kenya, East Africa. Scientific reports, 14(1), 12915. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73472-9
  21. Mbaka, C. K., Gikonyo, J., & Kisaka, O. M. (2019). Households’ energy preference and consumption intensity in Kenya. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 9, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-019-0196-5
  22. Migori County Government. (2023). Migori County spatial plan (2020–2030). http://migoriassembly.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MIGORI-COUNTY-SPATIAL-PLAN_Draft-1-compressed.pdf
  23. Mosha, N. F. V., & Ngulube, P. (2025). Adoption of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in African countries: a systematic review. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01983-3
  24. Muia, V., Opere, A., & Amwata, D. (2024). Gendered Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in Makueni County, Kenya. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 50(4), 505-522. https://ojs.nieindia.org/index.php/ijees/article/view/89
  25. Negesse, M. D., Hishe, S., & Getahun, K. (2024). Urban land use, land cover change and urban microclimate dynamics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Discover Environment, 2(1), 71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-024-00105-6
  26. Nkonya, E., Minnick, A., Ng’ang’a, E., & Woelcke, J. (2018). Land and natural resources degradation in the arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya.
  27. Nyambane, A., Njenga, M., Oballa, P., Mugo, P., Ochieng, C., Johnson, O., & Liyama, M. (2014). Sustainable firewood access and utilization: achieving cross-sectoral integration in Kenya. World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/ICRAF-SEI-2014-techbrief-Sustainable-firewood.pdf
  28. Opiyo, S. B., Letema, S. C., & Opinde, G. (2023). Characterizing rural households’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change and extremes in Migori River Watershed, Kenya. Climate and Development, 16(6), 471–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2023.2243612
  29. Ortiz-Bobea, A., Ault, T. R., Carrillo, C. M., Chambers, R. G., & Lobell, D. B. (2020). The historical impact of anthropogenic climate change on global agricultural productivity. arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.10415.
  30. Rosenthal, J., Balakrishnan, K., Bruce, N., Chambers, D., Graham, J., Jack, D., ... & Yadama, G. (2017). Implementation science to accelerate clean cooking for public health. Environmental health perspectives, 125(1), A3. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1028
  31. Royal Danish Embassy (2025). Transforming livelihoods through climate resilient, low carbon, sustainable agricultural value chains in the Lake Region Economic Bloc, Kenya. (2025). Royal Danish Embassy/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. https://um.dk/media/2rzl310c/transforming-livelihoods-through-climate-resilient-low-carbon-sustainable-agriculture-value-chains-i.pdf
  32. Schlenker, W., & Lobell, D. B. (2010). Robust negative impacts of climate change on African agriculture. Environmental Research Letters, 5(1), 014010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/5/1/014010
  33. Singh, K., Sahoo, G. C., & Sharma, S. (2025). Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance. In Microorganisms Resilience to Climate Change (pp. 349-361). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
  34. Smeets, E., & Weterings, R. (1999). Environmental indicators: Typology and overview (Technical Report No. 25). European Environment Agency, Copenhagen. https://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/ocrd/381282.pdf
  35. Stoner, O., Shaddick, G., Economou, T., Gumy, S., Lewis, J., Lucio, I., ... & Adair-Rohani, H. (2020). Global household energy model: a multivariate hierarchical approach to estimating trends in the use of polluting and clean fuels for cooking. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C: Applied Statistics, 69(4), 815-839. https://doi.org/10.1111/rssc.12428
  36. Swagatika Priyadarshini, L. A., Kaushik, V., & Kataria, R. (2025). The role of anthropogenic activities, energy demand, and global climate change. In The Intersection of Global Energy Politics and Climate Change: A Comprehensive Analysis of Energy Markets and Economics (pp. 35-61). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2533-6_2
  37. Tiwari, K. R., Sitaula, B. K., Nyborg, I. L. P., & Paudel, G. S. (2019). Determinants of farmers’ adoption of improved soil conservation technology in a middle mountain watershed of Central Nepal. Environmental Management, 43(2), 263-272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9137-z
  38. Waswa, B. S. (2012). Assessment of land degradation patterns in western Kenya: Implications for restoration and rehabilitation (Doctoral dissertation, Universitäts-und Landesbibliothek Bonn). https://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/diss_online
Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved by International Journal of Education, Science and Social Sciences
ijessonline.com