An evaluation of social and cultural factors influencing the church's environmental stewardship mandate at CITAM Ongata-Rongai

Abstract

The social and cultural factors influencing the church's mandate on environmental stewardship, focus on a case study conducted at CITAM Rongai in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study aims to evaluate the extent to which CITAM Rongai has implemented and upheld environmental stewardship principles and practices as mandated by God. It investigates the church's efforts in promoting environmental conservation guided by the following objectives: to assess whether people’s practice influences its mandate on environmental stewardship mandate at CITAM Ongata-Rongai; to establish if social norms influence the church's mandate on environmental stewardship mandate at CITAM Ongata-Rongai; to establish if personal belief and values influence the church's mandate on environmental stewardship at CITAM Ongata-Rongai. The research used a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and quantitative on church members' data analysis to comprehensively understand the church's role in environmental stewardship. A total of 124 respondents participated in the study. They were able to provide insights to church leadership, policymakers, and the wider community interested in fostering sustainable practices and conservation strategies. The church needs to influence people’s practices on the execution of its mandate on environmental stewardship preaching and engaging experts on environmental stewards, to influence participants in tree planting. Secondly, the church needs to encourage its members on its mandate through its social norms within the church's social norms towards environmental stewardship. Through encouraging community engagement to build partnerships with local communities in Kajiado County to undertake environmental initiatives, such as tree planting drives, clean-up activities, and conservation projects. Thirdly The church needs to develop initiatives to ignite personal beliefs and values that would strongly contribute to their dedication to environmental stewardship among the participants and members at large and this will make them embrace and prioritize environmental stewardship.