Promoting the Development of the Lenguruma Pastoralist Community through Formal Ownership of their Land

Pastoralists have been marginalized and continue to be marginalized to some extent. Development looks at improving the lives of people, for pastoralists' development means securing their way of life, pastoralism, and ensuring that their cultural and customary practices are protected and not looked at as a hindrance. As such, the study evaluated the importance of formal ownership of land by pastoralists as a measure towards promoting their development. The study was guided by three objectives: to analyze the challenges facing pastoral communities in realizing their communal land rights; to assess ways in which customary practices and norms on ownership of land by pastoral communities have been aligned with Kenya's development plans, land policies and laws; and to evaluate conditions which pastoral communities will need to meet for legal ownership of their land. The study focused on secondary research, and primary research through interviews in answering the research questions and achieving the purpose of the study. For the interviews, the study relied on purposive sampling in ensuring that the people interview cut across the stakeholders that is community members, community paralegals, consultants, lawyers, academics, and civil society representatives. Qualitative data was analyzed using narrative and content analysis in explaining the research topic. Additionally, the research focused on land tenure security as a theory to explain how the law ensures tenure security for pastoralists, and if the legal provisions are enough. It was evident that tenure security goes beyond the law and therefore as a concept and principle in land rights, it must be within the context of pastoral land use, management, governance, access, transfer and ownership. The research elaborated that land tenure security is not merely guaranteed by titling of land.