The Impact Of Environmental Factors On Human Security In Africa

Abstract

The connection between environmental concern and human security has attracted scholarly discourse lately. The developing world is bearing the brunt of climate change at a high scale that unless something is done to reverse the trend the human security of the inhabitants of these countries may not be guaranteed and hence the growing attention. Kenya, just like the other countries in the developing world has been affected by the consequences of climate change. The present study examined the impact of environmental factors on human security with a bias to the Mt. Kenya region in Kenya. The study was guided by three objectives; to examine how environmental degradation has contributed to human insecurity in Africa, to establish the effects of climate change on human security in Kenya, and to determine how the adverse effects of environmental degradation in Mt. Kenya can be mitigated and human security enhanced. The study was guided by Homer-Dixon’s environmental resource scarcity theory in exploring how different environmental factors have affected the security of the inhabitants of the Mt. Kenya region (Nyeri sub-County). Using a mixed study research design, both qualitative and quantitative data was collected from the participants in the present study. The findings of the study reveal that environmental factors including environmental degradation have an impact on human security, in particular, it was found that environmental degradation affects and speeds up aging process, increases the likelihood of individuals being exposed to diseases, increases the possibility of being poisoned through food, denies human beings nutrients and access to healthy foods that are necessary for survival, creates an environment that may stress us and our loved ones and leads to a future in which the human race will live shorter lives. In Kenya, the study revealed that the dry and rainy seasons have been affected with the seasons either being too long/short and unpredictable. It was also noted that due to degradation, there is an increase in human-wildlife conflict. To mitigate the effects of consequences of environmental impacts on human security, the study revealed that Kenya has put strategy in place to help in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change (adaptation measures) and to tame global warming (mitigation measures). The study recommends that there should be initiatives to create awareness on environmental degradation and its’ potential effects to enable the public to make right decisions in reference to the protection of the environment.