Water pollution in a Riparian community: the case of River Athi in Makueni County, Kenya

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of water pollution on riparian community along River Athi in Makueni County. Specific objectives included; documenting the causes of pollution of the River Athi in Kathonzweni Sub County, to establish the health effects resulting from the pollution of the River Athi and finally to assess and document interventions put in place by the government and residents in the study area to control the pollution of the River Athi. Data was collected using a sample size of 51 households in five villages living along the River Athi who are within 5 kilometre distance from the river. Structured questionnaires, observation, and interviews were the data collection methods employed and the collected data was analysed using SPSS windows and presented using tables. The study results show that up-stream pollution from industries and sewage was the commonest reported river polluter at Iiani (93.3%), Kikome (62.5%), Mumbeeni (60%), Kyase (50%) and Kwanyaa villages (33.3%) Chi square(X2) =1.7186), respectively. Results on the uses of river water within the five selected villages revealed there were seven water uses including watering crops, washing, drinking, fishing, cooking, bathing, and brick making. Across the five villages, malaria was the commonest illness reported in Iiani village (46.7%), Kyase and Kikome villages (37.5%), Kwanyaa village (22.2%) and Mumbeeni village (20%) (X2=0.0035). According to the results, contact with river water was the common cause of most illnesses with Kwanyaa village (55.6%) having the highest percentage of illness.. This was because most of the piped water was supplied without treatment to the village. The study further shows that the residents’ measures to control pollution were three and included observation of 30m riparian reserve by farmers and developers, not disposing refuse and pesticide cans in the river and the residents not washing near the river. The results of this study can provide a basis for designing water policies aimed at rural livelihood water quality and water security improvement within Makueni County.