Land Dispossession and Food Security in Kajiado County

This study focused on assessing "the relationship between land dispossession and its impact on food security on the pastoral community in Kajiado County." The study identifies that community land dispossession by investors through senior officials has hampered the wellbeing of the community that relies on livestock as their food security. Therefore, the study sought to find out the extent of land acquisition phenomena in Kajiado County; the impact of land dispossession on Maasai livelihood; as well as look at what coping strategies are being used by the Maasai community. An exploratory approach of qualitative research design was used in this study employing an interview questionnaire that was subjected to individuals as well as groups through discussion. The area of study was identified as Mapatato and Olgului ranch where 22 respondents inclusive of area chief and the 2-county official were interviewed via skype. The secondary data were analyzed using content analysis where a purposive deductive approach was carried out on the World Bank 2010 report, USAID 2016 report, and Ministry of land report on the nature of land ownership in Kajiado County. This study was driven by the participatory governance theory which advocates for inclusivity of all actors in providing solutions for a specific social problem. The study identified that though the communal trust land ownership has over the years tried to solve the challenges presented in rangeland, the absence of control on the land they operate in has led to the land being allocated to individuals or groups through government officials. The market demand-driven environment has led to the community resorting to embracing land titling in areas near towns and formation of group ranches such as Olgulului group ranch to fight competition from outsiders on land ownership. However, the legal framework through the Land Group Representative Act of 1968 Cap 287 provided an arrangement for collective pastoral management of land that was never effective through the government control hence the community law applied in ensuing the security of the Maasai livelihood is protected. However, the increase in population, urbanization, and corrupt government officials has led to the reduction of available land for grazing livestock blocking pastoral routes to water points and grazing areas hence leading to some pastoralists seeking informal employment which does not pay much. Therefore due to modernization the Maasai residing in the urban area (Matapato ward) and those residing in rural setup (Olgulului ranch) have changed or maintained their livelihood in terms of land ownership and food security.