DETERMINANTS OF GROUNDWATER RETENTION IN WELLS: A CASE OF KEIYO NORTH DISTRICT, ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Continuous degradation of biophysical factors and over utilisation of available water through unsustainable consumptive means, tend to threaten the existence of groundwater supply. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of human activities and biophysical factors on groundwater retention in wells in Keiyo North District, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain primary data. Systematic simple random sampling technique was applied in the study. Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used for data analysis. The results of the study showed that biophysical factors had significant influence on groundwater level and/or retention capacity during dry season and no association during rainy season. Altitude and land use were insignificant in influencing groundwater retention during both dry and wet seasons. The logit model showed that nearness to the forest, swamp, river had high probability to influence groundwater retention in the wells. However, the random factor in the regression model showed significant difference in influencing groundwater retention, which explains more on the impact of other parameters that were beyond the scope of this study such as soil characteristics and climate on water retention capability. The findings of this study will inform policy and decision makers as they develop sustainable conservation strategies that will ensure continuous groundwater supply.