Use and Possible Reproductive Effects of Contaminated River Water on Pigs Kept in Urban Informal Settlements of Nairobi City

Pig farmers in the informal settlements of Nairobi Kenya were interviewed to evaluate the use and possible effects of polluted river water on the reproduction of their boars. 80 farms were purposively selected and questionnaires administered to the pig own ers as respondents. Among the persons interviewed a majority; (38.8%) had attained secondary level of education. 72.5% were involved in urban farming as supplementary source of income while the rest had farming as their main occupation. N=34, (42.5%) respo ndents used polluted river water for their pigs, with n=14 citing reason for its use as; free source while n=20 cited it as being easily available. The male reproductive defect reported was that of retained testis. The occurrence of retained testis in pigs was higher (n=22) among the group which used contaminated river water for their pigs. The study concludes that most households living in informal settlement of Nairobi city access and use polluted river water in their livestock especially the pigs. This i s precipitated by the lack of knowledge on side effects, free and easy access of water and free range farming system adopted.