KNEC KCSE Geography Paper 2 Question Paper / 2015 KCSE Meru South Form 4 Joint Examination

a) Define population
Population is the total number of people living / occupying a given unit area. 2 marks
b) State three factors influencing population growth
– Fertility rate
– Mortality rate
– Migration 3 marks

a) Name two agricultural non food manufacturing industries in Kenya
− making footwear
− soap manufacturing
− tobacco processing
− sisal processing / rope making
− leather tanning
− textile manufacturing
− bees wax processing
− pyrethrum processing
− sawmilling / pulp / paper making
b)
− It has created job opportunities / employment
− Help in conservation as it uses old recycled raw materials
− Produces relatively cheapo product
− Facilitates decentralization of industries
− Empowers the people to initiate projects
− Goods from juakali earn foreign exchange once exported
− Help in spreading technological skills
− Saves the country foreign exchange.

Differentiate between domestic tourism and international tourism
− Domestic tourism is the visit of citizens of a country to places of interest within that country while international tourism is the
visit of persons from one country to places of interest in another country 2 marks
b) State three inland tourist attractions sites in Kenya.
− National parks / game reserves/ sanctuaries.
− Landscapes of various landforms
− Historical / prehistoric sites/ museums
− Varied cultures.
− Hot springs/ geysers/fumaroles
− Monuments 1 × 3 = 3 marks

a) Name the minerals found in the following areas of East Africa
i) Kerio valley – Flourspar – 1 mark
ii) Kariandusi – Diatomite – 1 mark
iii) Tororo – limestone / phosphate – 1 mark
b) Give two by-products obtained when crude oil is refined
− Wax
− Bitumen / tar / pitch / asphalt
− Sulphur
− Lubricant / grease
− Resin / petrochemicals. 2 × 1 = 2 marks

a) What is land pollution ?
− Its the deterioration of the state of land through the addition of harmful / poisonous substances.
b) State three effects of land pollution on the environment.
− The garbage may result to foul smell / air pollution.
− The dumped waste is washed to the rivers when it rains.
− Garbage can be breeding grounds for rodents / flies / cockroaches.
− Accumulation of garbage leads to blockage of roads / drainage systems.
− Garbage heaps are an eyesore/ make environment ugly.
− Oil spillage / industrial waste lead to destruction of fauna flora / biodiversity

6.a)
KENYA LEADING EXPORT CROPS BY VALUE IN 2000
b) State four physical conditions that favour coffee growing in Kenya.
− High rainfall  / 1000 – 1500m / well distributed throughout the year.
− Deep soils fertile volcanic soils. 
− Cold-warm  conditions / 14° – 24°C throughout the year.
− The land is gentle sloping  /well drained soils. 4 × 1 = 4 marks
c) Explain four ways in which the government of Kenya assists small scale coffee farmers
− The government has conducted research on new species of coffee and methods of controlling pests and diseases to improve
quality.
− The government has constructed new roads / improved existing ones in growing areas to enhance transportation
− The government has provided extension workers to advice farmers on better methods of coffee farming.
− The government has advanced loans to farmers to assist them to improve on their farming.
− The government helps farmer to market their coffee through the coffee board of Kenya (CBK)
− The government has provided subsized farm inputs /fertilizers to farmers to reduce the cost of production.4×2=8 marks
d) Your geography class carried out a field study on a coffee farm
i) State two objectives for the study.
− To find out the variety of coffee grown
− To establish the size of the farm
− To find out how coffee is harvested.
− To establish the source of labour
− To find out the problems faced by the farmer. 2 × 1 = 2 marks
ii) Give three problems you encouraged during the study near your school
− Language barrier
− Adverse weather conditions / very high temperatures / rain /fog/mist.
− Fatigue 3 × 1 = 3 marks

a) Define the term reafforestion. 2 marks
Reafforestation is the practise of planting trees where they have been cut / replacing cleared forests. 2 marks
b) i) State four reasons why it is necessary to carry out afforestation programme
− To protect water catchment areas.
− To protect soil from erosion by wind /water.
− To ensure sustainable supply of forest products.
− To put more land under forest cover / to check desertification
− To check extinction of indigenous trees.
− To regulate climate 4 × 1 = 4 marks
ii) Give three factors that favour the exploitation of soft wood forests in Kenya
− Logging can go on all the year round as Kenya is free from winter which would interrupt the activity.

− Hydroelectric power is readily available to the few sawmills and paper mills in Webuye.

− Availability of water from Rivers.
− Availability of cheap and ample labour for cutting and processing of timber.
− Timber and wood products are in a high demand within Kenya and the COMESA region which guarantees a ready market for
the products. 3 × 1 = 3 marks
c) i) Four factors that have led to the reduction of the area under forest on the slope of mount Kenya
− The illegal encroachment of human activities / illegal cultivation has led to clearing of the forest.
− Increased population of elephants that destroy the trees.
− Prolonged droughts have caused drying of some trees.
− Plants diseases / pest destroy some trees in the forests.
− Outbreak of forest fires /charcoal burning destroy parts of the forest.
− Over exploitation of certain species of trees 4 × 1 = 4 marks
ii) State four ways in which the clearing of forest has affected the natural environment.
− It has led to reduced volume of water in the rivers / caused drying up of rivers.
− It has disrupted the ecosystem
− It has accelerated soil erosion
− It has led to destruction of natural habitat for wildlife / it has endangered some of the wildlife species.
− It has led to changes in the rainfall pattern / desertification.
− It has interfered with the beauty of the environment / lowered the aesthetic value of the environment. 4 × 1 = 4 marks
d) Explain four factors that limit the exploitation of tropical rainforest in Africa.
− Tree take long to mature which discourages exploitation.
− The forest has a thick undergrowth which make penetration / development of roads difficult.
− Trees occur in mixed form making it difficult to exploit valuable species.
− The Climbers / thick vegetation obstruct the felling of trees / huge buttress roots obstruct felling operation / slow felling of trees.
− Water logged / swampy ground makes construction and maintenance of roads expensive /impassable.
− Hot and humid conditions are uncomfortable / encourage breeding of disease carrying pests which affect human beings.
− Some wild animals found in the forest are dangerous and may attack people.
− Logs are heavy / bulk hence difficult to transport.
− Limited use of hardwood discourage exploitation4 × 2 = 8 marks

a) What is a game sanctuary?
A game sanctuary is a specific area established to give protection to a specific animal community / birds which are either
threatened with extinction / only fond in a particular area. 2 × 1 = 2 marks
b) MAP OF KENYA
3 × 1 = 3 marks
c) i) Give five reasons why Kenya needs to conserve wildlife.
− So as to protect the endangered animals / plant species/ regeneration
− So as to promote tourism
− To generate foreign exchange / revenue
− To keep wildlife for posterity / future generation.
− To sustain the raw materials for supply of drugs / medicinal value.
− For educational /research purposes.
− For aesthetic value / beauty / recreation 5 × 1 = 5 marks
ii) Name three historical sites in the coastal region of Kenya
− Gede ruins
− Fort Jesus
− Vasco Da-gama Pillar
− Shimoni caves. 3 × 1 = 3 marks

d) i) Give five advantages of game Ranches in Kenya.
− The animals / wildlife is exploited for meat and other products.
− The ranches help to encourage environmental conservation
− The ranches help to protect endangered animals species / from hunters / predators.
− The wildlife in the ranches may attract tourists who bring in foreign exchange.
− Wildlife utilizes marginal land better / help in the utilization of marginal land.
− Wildlife withstand drought better than livestock. 5 × 1 = 5 marks
ii) State three problems posed by wildlife
− Wildlife may kill livestock / spread diseases.
− Wildlife may occupy agricultural land.
− Wildlife destroys crops / agricultural / vegetation.
− Wildlife kills people. 3 × 1 = 3 marks
e) Outline four wild animal products on which trade ban has been imposed.
− Rhino horns
− Elephants tusks / ivory
− Crocodile skin
− Leopard skin
− Lions skin
− Zebra skin 4 × 1 = 4 marks

a) i)
− Transport is the movement of goods / people from one place to another.
ii)
− Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi.
− Moi International Airport Mombasa
− Eldoret International Airport.
iii)
− Creates employment opportunities raising the standards of living.
− Provide quick transport hence promoting horticultural farming.
− Have promoted tourism
− Government earns revenue through taxation of goods and passengers.
− Have promoted international trade.
− They have promoted international understanding by enabling Kenyans to interact with people from other parts of the world.
b)
− Construction of highways / dual carriage ways / road expansion to accommodate more traffic / improve traffic flow.
− Construction of bypasses / fly-overs / underpasses to reduce congestion / improve traffic flow.
− Rehabilitation / maintenance of major roads to reduce accidents / improve traffic flow.
− Control of load carried by trailers / big lorries to reduce damage on road surfaces.
− Education road users / public on road safety precautions / discipline on roads to ease traffic / reduce accidents.
− Providing paths for pedestrians / cyclists to reduce congestion on roads / improve road safety.
− Enforcing traffic rules to reduce road accidents / regulate traffic flow.
− Amendments of the Traffic Bill in 2012 by introducing more stringent traffic rules to ensure improved road safety.
c)
− There are less traffic jams in railways.
− Trains carry more bulky goods over long distances at one.
− Once built railways require less maintenance while roads require frequent resurfacing.
− Trains are less prone to accidents compared to vehicles.
− Trains are more efficient as they operate on a rigid schedule.
− Railway transport is cheaper than road transport. any
d)
− They offer transport in areas that are inaccessible by motor vehicles / give door to door services.
− Motorcycles are cheaper to maintain than vehicles.
− Motorcycles are more affordable than vehicles.
− Most roads / paths in the rural areas are narrow making motorcycles the most suitable means of transport.
− Motorcycles require minimal skills to ride so many people are able to use them.
− Motorcycles uses less fuel than vehicles.

a) Differentiate between internal and regional trade.
− Internal trade is the buying and selling of goods and services within a country’s borders while regional trade is trade among countries found in the same geographical region. 
ii) Name four major imports to Kenya from the European Union
− Machinery
− Motor vehicles.
− Medicine / pharmaceuticals.
− Chemical fertilizers.
− Iron and steel
− Chemicals
− Textiles
b) State five ways in which trade is of significance to Kenya.
− Trade generates revenue through taxation of goods /services.
− Creates employment opportunities through industries established / creates self employment.
− Export of goods enables a country to earn foreign exchange.
− The demand for goods stimulates industrial growth / agricultural growth.
− The need to reach far off markets leads to expansion of transport facilities.
− Trade leads to development of urban centres / urbanization.
− Trade stimulates specialization in the production of goods.
− Enhances cooperation between Kenya and other countries / between communities in Kenya.
− Trade between Kenya and other countries ensure availability of a wide variety of goods.
− Stimulates exploitation of existing natural resources because there is market for the goods.
c) Explain four problems facing trade in Kenya. (8 marks)
− Cheap imported goods create unfair competition for some local products.
− Exports are mainly raw materials / agricultural goods which are lowly priced hence low earnings for the country.
− Trade restrictions on Kenyan goods affect the production of such goods / causing losses to exporters.
− Fluctuations of prices in the world market varies revenue from exports making it difficult to plan
− Poor / inadequate transport and communication facilities in some areas cause delays of delivery to markets / delivery of raw
materials to industries / cause spoilage of goods increasing the cost of goods.
− Slow clearance of goods at the port of Mombasa delays delivery of goods / increases the cost of goods.
− Corruption / smuggling of goods results in loss of government revenue.
− Inadequate capital for some traders make them unable to expand their trading activities.
− Insecurity in the country discourages investors / makes traders to incur heavy losses.
− High fees paid in form of trading licences discourage traders.
− Poverty / low incomes among the people make it difficult for them to afford most goods.
− High fuel prices increase production / transportation cost leading to increased prices of goods / low demand for goods.
d) Your class intends to carry out a field study on the Nairobi International
Trade fair
i) State three methods you would use to collect data.
− Content analysis
− Observation / observing
− Photographing / taking photographs.
− Interviewing
− Administering questionnaires
ii) Give three reasons why a reconnaissance would be necessary.
− To determine the likely cost to be incurred during the study.
− To be able to formulate the objectives for the study.
− To be able to prepare appropriate data collection methods.
− To be able to prepare a working schedule.
− To determine the appropriate tools for the study.
− To find out the likely problems to be experienced during the study.