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Soapstone quarrying and carving has taken place at the Tabaka region of Gucha South Sub-County for many decades. The activities associated with soapstone quarrying include clearing of vegetation, removal of top soil, earth moving, excavation of the stones and chopping off the unwanted parts of the soapstone. These activities have caused serious environmental impacts in the quarrying areas. This study focused on the effects of vegetation destruction as a result of soapstone quarrying on the socio-economic well-being of households within the quarrying areas of Gucha South Sub-County, Kenya. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of vegetation destruction (loss of cover and biodiversity erosion) by quarrying on the socio-economic well-being of households within the quarry areas. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. Purposive sampling procedure was utilized where 102 households were purposively selected based on their nearness to the soapstone quarries. Data collection was done using a questionnaire, recording observations and taking photographs. Descriptive (Frequency distribution, percentages, means, median and mode) and Inferential (Regression, Chi-square and ANOVA) statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study indicate that vegetation destruction as a result of soapstone quarrying activities has negative effects on the socio-economic wellbeing of the households found within the soapstone quarrying areas. Thus, there is need to regulate the soapstone quarrying activities. There is also an urgent need for an Environmental Impact Assessment and audit to be carried out to determine the state of the environment in the soapstone quarrying areas.

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Livelihood diversification among the pastoral communities is currently a common occurrence due to changes in climate and human population. This study assessed the influence of business activities and wildlife tourism related activities on the socioeconomic wellbeing of Maasai women in Isinya, Kajiado County, Kenya. A stratified random sample of 279 women were selected from households in the study area and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire in 2017. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics which involved simple linear regression model and Chi-square techniques. Four Focus Group Discussions were conducted for the household survey data while interview schedule was applied for key informants. The results showed that the wellbeing of the Maasai women were significantly (p<0.001) and positively affected by diversification into the business activities (β =0 451) and wildlife and tourism related activities (β =0 328). The study concludes that with the changing climate and reduction in land sizes owned by the pastoral communities, livelihood diversification towards business and wildlife activities would assist women to improve their standard of living. The study recommends diversification towards business and wildlife enterprises since they give individuals and households more capabilities to improve livelihood security and also to raise their living standards.