An Assessment of the Perceived Socioeconomic impacts of Climate Change on the Community of Faza island, Lamu East district, Kenya.

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Description: A study conducted on Faza Island in the Kenyan Indian Ocean between October and November 2010 aimed to assess the social and economic impacts of climate change on the residents. The study utilized questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions to gather data. The findings revealed that climate change significantly affected the villagers' lives, leading to water scarcity as a major concern. While residents had limited knowledge of climate change, they observed shifts in climatic conditions, including frequent droughts. Water scarcity led to commercial sale of rainwater stored in concrete containers. Rising temperatures correlated with increased weather-related diseases, impacting health and well-being. Fishing, a vital economic activity, suffered due to declining fish production since 2000, leading to consequences such as school dropouts, youth unemployment, and drug use. Erratic rainfall patterns negatively impacted agricultural output, although some fishermen turned to agriculture as an adaptation strategy. High poverty levels hindered effective adaptation, exacerbating the community's challenging social and economic conditions due to climate change impacts.