Evaluation of factors influencing residents’ environmental satisfaction of four housing development estates In Maralal town, Samburu County, Kenya

Abstract

The concept of environmental satisfaction by estate residents can be used to gauge the condition of the environment and policies on the provision of environmental services. The environmental conditions within four housing estates (Sunrise, Loresho, Milimani, and Town estates) in Maralal town, are in a poor state and need to be addressed. The concept of environmental satisfaction by the residents can be used to gauge the level of this problem and in the process seek environmental solutions and develop a policy to guide environmental activities in the estates. The study was guided by the following objectives: to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic factors (age, plot size and household number) on residents’ environmental satisfaction, to assess the influence of environmental knowledge on environmental satisfaction of residents, to determine the level of influence of collective action on residents’ environmental satisfaction, to assess the influence of place identity on the level of residents’ environmental satisfaction and to determine the level of influence of place dependency on environmental satisfaction of residents in four housing estates in Maralal town. The ex-post facto research design was adopted. A stratified random sampling was used to select households. A researcher administered structured questionnaire was used to collect information from 269 residents of the housing estates. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 95 % level of confidence in a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS version 26). The residents’ environmental satisfaction of the four housing estates was found to be high (M=4.75, SD= 1.09) based on a scale of 1-7. Positive statistically significant influences were found to exist between residents’ environmental knowledge (β = .639, t=13.58, p<.001), collective action (β=.687, t=15.46, p=.001), residents’ place identity (β=.597, t=12.16, p<.001), and residents’ place dependency (β=.629, t=13.21, p<.001). Non-significant (p>.05) influences were found between residents’ environmental satisfaction and age of the residents and size of plot owned by the residents. The Findings of this research may provide useful quantitative data on environmental conditions and quality of services provided to members of the four housing estates in Maralal town and to the stakeholders involved in environmental management. This information will also assist the National and County governments in formulating policies applicable environmental policies that have the greatest impact on well-being of the people.