Influence of population size on the trend in rural land use change in Rongo Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Trends in rural land use change are significant for the economic viability of any country as it contributes to the general health of any bionetwork by promoting conservation. The information on the aspects of population size that influence the trends in land use change is thus crucial for the formulation of policies that can guide common rural land uses such as settlements and agriculture. This paper examines the influence of population size on the trend in rural land use change trends in Rongo Sub-County. The study used a descriptive research design and collected primary data through questionnaires, observations, interviews, focus group discussions, and satellite imagery. A total of 384 respondents were selected using cluster random sampling. A review of relevant literature was adopted to acquire secondary data. The study used descriptive statistics in analysing the quantitative data, while qualitative data was analysed thematically. Findings which were presented in tables and charts show that the study area’s population has increased by 45.5% over the study period (2002-2022) and that there is an increased number of households. Consequently, there is an expansion of farmlands for the production of food and a continuous increase of the area under settlements. The study recommends the development and implementation of policies that can influence the aspects associated with rural land use change transition tendencies.