North Kilimanjaro - Drivers of Land Use/Land Cover in South-East Kajiado, Kenya

3. Drivers of Land Use/Land Cover in South-East Kajiado District, Kenya

Economic Driving Forces

External

National Policy on Wildlife and tourism/conservation implemented by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife
Continuing national Land Ethos, roots in colonial land alienation and post-independence land acquisition by political class
Vegetable production for export - wholesale exporters, private traders
Urban demand for meat encourages commercial meat production
Flower growing for export - located near Nairobi, water diverted from Nolturesh River flowing from Mt. Kilimanjaro - 60-75% of flow diverted with impact upon Kuku Group Ranch Irrigation at Kisanjani, Olkaria and Oloorika
SAP and economic liberalization

Local

Institutional/Policy Driving Forces

External

Encouragement of sub-division of Group Ranches by Government of Kenya
Interests in election of Group Ranch committees - KWS and ¡°big¡± men
Political power - encouragement of agricultural expansion; non-Maasai over Maasai. NB KWS emphasis on Maasai despite demographic and political realities.
KANU chiefs active in land settlement and adjudicating disputes
District administration less powerful??
Arid & Semi Arid Lands Development Programme promoting ¡°formal¡± irrigation
NGOs active in wildlife arena
SAPs and Economic liberalization

Local

Land tenure - pressures for sub-division of ranches, particularly among the younger Group Ranch members; older concerned with viability and equity issues
Young/old issue in ranch committees - young fearful of losing rights
Informal land claims on group ranches lead to divergent views on ownership - pre-empting subdivision
Tenants/renters/squatters claim land rights on group ranches
Local NGOs - wildlife/tourism-related, and development
Involvement in formal land use planning - ASAL, The Amboseli-Tsavo Conservation Association
Greater involvement of civil institutions in conflict resolution, particularly when disputes are not Maasai-Maasai but between ethnic groups

Social/Cultural Driving Forces

External

Internal

Population growth
Diversification of herders into agriculture has changed mobility and settlement patterns
Age sets and leadership issues debated
Role of men and women in decision-making
Violence in inter-ethnic conflict situations in all areas where heterogeneous populations now found - Rombo, Kimana, Kuku and Mbirikani
Cultural bomas as physical and economic refuge for women wishing to leave their husbands
Ethnic heterogeneity - ethnic self-identification changing, particularly in farming areas
Cultural Identity of Maasailand -The area under cultivation on the slopes of Kilimanjaro is increasingly identified with immigrant farming groups (Chagga, Kamba and Kikuyu). The people who farm now are second generation, and the Maasai way of life is "out on the plains"
Less trust in and recourse to traditional institutions. Disputes formerly settled by discussion; now more recourse to chiefs, police, courts and violence - particularly where conflicts are between herders and farmers in Rombo, Kuku and Kimana group ranches

Environmental Factors

Water

Rainfall; drought recurrent
Swamp margins, occupied and crops vulnerable to wildlife damage
Water quality - chemical pollution of water in irrigated areas - implications for the health of people and wildlife
Water quantity - irrigation water in reduced supply and
Diversion of Nolturesh River to pipeline
Access to water for domestic use, agriculture, livestock and wildlife

Soil Fertility - manure, fallow

Fertility decline reported by over 30% of farmers on Mt. Kilimanjaro, and over 70% on the lower mountain and around swamps.
Evidence of land being taken out of production.

Soil Erosion

Woodland

Decrease in woodland reported by 90% on the lower mountain and around swamps, and 70% in the rangelands

Socio-Economic and Land Use Implications