The concern of the all-important issue of how we manage the use of our land in Kenya has been on the lips of concerned Kenyans for quite some time now. It has received feeble mentions by some government quarters but that’s all.
Before the arrival of the Mzungu, the population was low, and land management was community-based.
However, with the arrival of the mzungu and introduction of the titled ownership of land by individuals, coupled with population explosion, land has proved to be a fast-diminishing resource. This has seen land being subdivided into quite small portions, that they loss of any economic value due to the succession issue in the absence of any land use policy.
The emergence of the financially empowered middle class in Kenya has seen an explosion of high demand for settlement land and property merchants targeting high agricultural areas, thus threatening food security in Kenya. This has also witnessed an increasing offshoot of unplanned urbanization and settlements even in semi-arid areas and wetlands.
This has resulted in worsening environmental degradation and pollution, in addition to the reduction of wildlife dispersal areas and their migration routes. This has also posed a high long-term threat to the livestock husbandry trade in Kenya, as pastoral lands and trust lands are being subdivided into uneconomical human settlement portions.
In most developed countries, titled ownership of land is guided by established land use policy where a country’s land use is mapped and planned per established best suitable value use and no other activity can be carried out in that area other than the suitable activity as established and planned for.
In Africa, South Africa stands out as a good example.
Sadly, this knowledge was within our past leaders’ knowledge all along, since independence, but
In this country, most decisions are made based on what might bring higher personal, political or financial
millage.
So it was quite encouraging to see; starting with the Kiambu governor (Wamatangi); some legislators
championing the urgency of the need for a land use policy in Kenya. This should be supported by all
Kenyans of goodwill, who should demand the immediate establishment of the same.
If done well without politicization, and discussed by all stakeholders, and led by experts, it will not only
help correct some past mistakes that will haunt future generations, but also prevent further ignorant
but injurious subdivision of the Kenyan bread basket lands, while informing assignment of the right use
of land according to its best use for agriculture, livestock husbandly / wildlife/eco-tourism, forestry,
water towers/river catchment purposes, industrial and settlement areas,
This way, it will (for the first time), enable planning of Kenyan land for use as ecosystems for better
management of ecological cycles and productivity, as well as planning the best use and management of our natural resources. Land use policy will also enhance appreciation of the preservation of wilderness, not only for aesthetic values, but for perpetual present and future scientific values for humanity and biodiversity welfare.
The older generation should make every effort to ensure they hand over to the younger generation a country in which there is a clear policy of land use and management.
Musa Thondu,
Programs Director
Eco Edu Consult & Research Trust