Examining Association Between Peoples’ Livelihood Assets and The Adoption of Treated Wastewater in Ruai, Kenya

Abstract

Several households in Ruai use or have ever used the treated wastewater from the Ruai Wastewater Treatment Plant either directly or indirectly for various livelihoods’ activities. This study investigated how their various livelihoods assets influenced the adoption of the treated wastewater (TWW) in Ruai, between October, 2018 and April 2019. The study employed a cross-sectional design. A sample size of 360 households was selected using both stratified and systematic random sampling methods. Raw data were collected through surveys and observations, then subjected to both descriptive and correlational analyses using both the Ms Excel and the SPSS software Version 20.0. Pearson's Chi-square test of independence and Cramer’s V coefficient were used to estimate any association and its interpretation & strength respectively between households’ adoption of (using) the treated wastewater and their identified livelihood assets. Results showed that the availability of wastewater, peoples’ past experience and skills of its use, availability of reserve lands, their social/groups networks among friends, relatives and other co-users of the wastewater have moderate to high positive associations with their adoption of TWW use in Ruai. The study findings provide crucial information hitherto unavailable that could be used to inform the formulation of a policy on appropriate management and utilization of the treated waste water in Ruai ecosystem that integrate possible re-use scheme where the community members would leverage these assets inter alia, for enhancing their livelihoods. The findings can also be used as a reference in the creation of awareness to the community members among other audience on the possibility of adoption of treated wastewater by exploiting their potential livelihood assets for enhanced livelihood outcomes.

Keywords: Adoption, Treated Wastewater (TWW), Livelihood, Livelihood assets, Association.

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/14-14-03

Publication date:August 31^st 2023