African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, Vol. 9 (2), 51-66, 2022
Authors: Edwin Oluoch K’oyoo1, Leah Onyango2 and Emmanuel Midheme3
Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Maseno University
P.O Box 3275-40100, KISUMU, Kenya.
Corresponding author: Edwin Oluoch K’oyoo
Abstract: Brownfields (degraded landscapes) are considered as problem spaces, barriers and obstacles that do not fit well within the landscapes they are found within. Crime and other social evils besides hazards are usually associated with their abandoned, disused and derelict nature. They are not aesthetically appealing to residents of the neighborhoods in addition to occupying large areas that would be used more productively. While there is need to rehabilitate Kisumu’s brownfields into more productive urban land uses, public perception of the social effects and visual quality of these sites is not clearly known. In accordance, this study postulates that rehabilitation of post-mine brownfields lies in understanding the social effects and visual quality they pose within the neighborhoods they are found in and which should not be neglected in the wake of spreading urban development to these areas. The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in terms of assessing the public perception of the social effects and visual quality of post-mine brownfields within the urban landscapes. Case study research was carried with the unit of analysis being the brownfield sites and households living within a 500-metre radius of each brownfield site. A total of 96 participants selected randomly were involved in the survey within four brownfield neighborhoods that were purposively selected in the study due to long history of quarrying thus resulting into post-mine brownfields. The survey used questionnaires administered randomly and the findings were analyzed using percentages and presented in tables and figures. On site observation within the four sites was also carried through photography. The study found out that the post-mine brownfields affected the visual quality of the immediate areas due to waterlogging, visible rugged landscape, untamed vegetation and dumping of wastes. The findings revealed that the four post-mine sites had very high levels of unpleasantness that affected the aesthetic value of the immediate surroundings. The study recommends that the negative spatial attributes of the sites such as untamed vegetation, dumping of wastes should be addressed to avoid possible hideouts for crime and other social evils that they pose as threats to the surrounding community. Planning for long term solution through rehabilitation re-uses that are productive and beneficial should be undertaken through holistic stakeholder engagement.
Keywords: Community perception, Degraded landscapes, Post-mine brownfields, Social environment, Visual quality, Urban landscapes, Spatial planning, Kisumu City, Kenya
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Suggested Citation
Oluoch, E. K., Onyango, L. and Midheme, E. (2022). Assessing community perception of post-mine brownfield’s on the social environment and visual quality of urban landscapes: A case study of Kisumu City, Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 9(2), 51-66. Available online at http://arjess.org/social-sciences-research/assessing-community-perception-of-post-mine-brownfields-on-the-social-environment-and-visual-quality-of-urban-landscapes-a-case-study-of-kisumu-city-kenya.pdf
