Stone quarrying in Kajiado East Sub-County, Kenya, driven by demand for construction materials, has significantly altered land use and land cover (LULC), raising environmental sustainability concerns. This study assessed the impacts of quarrying on LULC and vegetation health, using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and proposed sustainable management strategies. A mixed-methods approach integrated descriptive surveys with geospatial analysis, utilizing Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery (1993–2023). Data from 196 respondents, collected via stratified random sampling, were complemented by field observations and GIS analysis on ArcGIS and Google Earth Engine. NDVI, calculated as (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red), assessed vegetation health,while LULC changes were mapped to evaluate quarrying’s environmental footprint. Findings showed significant LULC shifts:shrubland decreased by 61.5% (132.93 km 2 to 51.13 km 2), forest cover declined by 64.7% (37.09 km 2 to 13.08 km 2),bare land expanded from 21.49 km 2 (7.49%) to 49.52 km 2 (17.25%), with built-up areas growing from 0.99 km 2 to 14.82 km 2, reflecting quarrying-induced degradation and urban expansion. NDVI analysis revealed no significant correlation with quarrying intensity (r =-0.003,p = 0.973, R 2 = 0.000), suggesting limitations in detecting localized vegetation loss due to temporal lags, spatial resolution, or reclamation efforts. Community observations confirmed vegetation degradation and land degradation around quarry sites, driven by topsoil removal, exacerbating erosion and biodiversity loss.The study recommends mandatory reclamation plans, enhanced GIS-based NDVI monitoring, and community-led restoration to mitigate impacts. These findings highlight the need for integrated land-use planning and stricter regulatory enforcement to balance economic benefits with sustainable environmental management.

Off-grid solar systems provide clean and affordable energy.Adoption of off-grid solar energy is becoming increasingly popular in Kenya as a source of renewable energy,with an estimated 6 million people now using off-grid solar power systems.However, the rising off-grid solar systems technology uptake comes with a growing amount of solar e-waste, which can have harmful environmental and health effects if not managed properly.Current data on the exact amount of solar e-waste being generated in Kenya is unavailable and this amount will continue to rise with the expiry of many of these off-grid solar systems lifespans.This study through stakeholder's workshop engagement and document analysis approaches,established that the country has robust general waste policy,legal and institutional framework but there is no specific policies and regulations on off grid-solar electronic waste management,just like it is the case in many developing countries. In addition, there is a lack of awareness on hazardous nature of off-grid solar systems e-waste to both consumers and institutions of governance.Furthermore,there is little enforcement of the general regulations in addition to inadequate management infrastructures.This calls for development of effective off-grid solar e-waste management policies and regulations within the backdrop of the rising uptake of off-grid solar energy systems in Kenya.