Influence of Communication Media use as a Public Education Strategy in the Conservation of Kingwal Wetland in Nandi County, Kenya

Wetlands are ecosystem rich in nutrients and sufficient water that support plants and animals but are not wastelands. The need to proactively convey a message and an image to the public is now widely recognized globally. Environmental education encourages behavioural changes that facilitate habitat protection and wetland conservation. This study was carried in Kingwal wetland in Nandi County and studies on communication media use as a public education strategy adopted to enhance its conservation. This study used descriptive survey design and the target population was 25741. Sample of 378 was derived using Krejcie and Morgan formula of individuals the study also targeted 10 institutions involved in the conservation of the wetland thus a total sample of 388 derived. Questionnaires were used to gather the necessary data for this study, research instruments were tested for reliability and validity before data was collected. Data was analysed descriptively using mean and standard deviation and presented in tables. Findings on the influence of communication media use as a public education strategy a mean of 3.5462 and std deviation of.71803 indicating a significant number agreed that use of different media contributes in public education on conservation. The ability to communicate to the public on regular period would yield positive results in their behaviour and attitudes on wetlands. The study recommended that there is need to work with media on promoting public education on conservation of wetlands and encourage the media practitioners to support institutions such as NEMA, WRAU, MEWNR, CBOS, NGOS, County governments in educating the public on conservation of wetlands.