Analysis of the Impacts of Population Dynamics on Land Use and Land Cover in Nyeri Peri-Urban Area in Kenya

The increasing population in Nyeri County and Kenya necessitates a thoughtful, scientifically informed approach to land use and cover changes. While population is expansively elastic, land is an inelastic resource that demands sustainable utilization and planning. This study aimed to analyze land use and cover changes in Nyeri and its surroundings, emphasizing the intricate relationship between land use and population distribution. To accomplish these objectives, a dual methodology was employed. Remote sensing was utilized for land use and land cover (LULC) change analysis, employing Landsat 7 imagery from 1987, 2000, and 2010. Concurrently, GIS population mapping was employed to visually represent population distribution changes over time. Population data from the 1989, 1999, and 2009 censuses were used to examine population dynamics. The LULC analysis classified images into four categories: agricultural land, bare land, urban, and forests. The population data, converted to points at polygon centroids, underwent interpolation to map population distribution changes within the study area and across classes. Results indicated a 13% population increase between 1989 and 1999 and an 8% increase between 1999 and 2009. Urban and forest areas doubled every ten years, while cultivated land decreased by 4% initially and 15% in the second epoch. This suggested improved forest protection and heightened public awareness of their significance. Urbanization primarily impacted cultivated land, often converted into built-up areas. The findings underscore the necessity for enhanced planning to meet the evolving needs of the urban population, a significant component of the study area.