Policy and institutional context for NRM in Kenya: Challenges and opportunities for Landcare

Kenya’s natural resource base has dwindled over the years. The existence of many land-related laws, some of which are incompatible, has resulted in complex land management regimes, giving rise to fragmented interventions, poor land administration, and inadequate provision of agricultural services. The consequences are serious environmental problems aggravated by social, economic and political factors. Traditionally, land use practices were more sustainable, but many of these Landcare practices were discarded with the advent of colonialism. Today, significant progress is evident in rule-making, paving the way for adoption of more integrative approaches to natural resources management (NRM), including the more sustainable Landcare. Landcare is a widely-adopted community-based approach to NRM, that started in Australia in mid 1980s. The adoption of Landcare in Kenya, however, requires understanding of the policy and institutional contexts for which it can be applied. This paper attempts to identify regime structures and policy instruments for anchoring the Landcare approach in Kenya. It informs a larger regional effort for the transformation of NRM through a Landcare framework. This review paper concludes that: 1) the existing policy context is neither inhibitive for Landcare nor does it require new policies; 2) Due to the existing complex institutional architecture, the introduction Landcare approaches in Kenya should be pragmatic and nuanced; 3) Landcare adoption will not only lead to achievement of national goals, but international obligations as well; 4) The relevance and longevity of Landcare is dependent on appropriate modes of integration; and 5) a coalition approach appears to have the potential mode for integrating Landcare in Kenya

Management of premature end-of-life vehicles in developing countries: Lessons from Nairobi City County, Kenya

Premature end-of-life Vehicles (ELVs) are on the rise in Kenya due to an increase in road accidents, as reported by National Transport and Safety Authority. These premature ELVs are poorly managed, frequently found parked in police station yards, garages, and residential estates, posing risks to public health and environment, thus undermining progress toward sustainable development goals. There have been scattered efforts on their management through policies and legislation, such as the Environmental Management and Coordination Act of 1999; the umbrella law on environment,which remains generic and insufficient in effectively addressing premature ELVs. This article presents the findings of a study conducted to assess the existing management mechanisms of premature ELVs in Nairobi City County. The study employed semi-structured questionnaires administered to households (n = 170) and conducted key informant interviews (n = 88) within relevant agencies in the County. The results show that the most common mechanism for handling premature ELVs is their sale to garages for spare parts sourcing (31%), while the least utilized method invloves selling them for recycling (3%). Furthermore, there exists an opportunity to implement circular economy principles in the management of premature ELVs. Consequently, there is a pressing need for government to develop appropriate policies, legal frameworks, and institutional support to effectively manage premature ELVs

The Power of ‘Know-Who’: Adaptation to Climate Change in a Changing Humanitarian Landscape in Isiolo, Kenya

This article examines adaptation to climate change in view of changing humanitarian approaches in Isiolo County, Kenya. While humanitarian actors are increasingly integrating climate change in their international and national-level strategies, we know less about how this plays out at sub-national levels, which is key to tracking whether and how short-term assistance can support long-term adaptation. The article suggests that increasing attention to resilience and adaptation among humanitarian actors may not lead to reduced vulnerability because resources tend to be captured through existing power structures, directed by who you know and your place in the social hierarchy. In turn, this sustains rather than challenges the marginalisation processes that cause vulnerability to climate shocks and stressors. The article highlights the important role of power and politics both in channelling resources and determining outcomes

Securing and Managing Community Land: Lessons from Kenya

This paper was presented in the 2021 Conference on Land Policy in Africa held in Kigali, Rwanda, in November 2021. It is based on a three-year study by the Land Development and Governance Institute (LDGI), in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, to test the efficacy of the application of Kenya's new Community Land Act. The study sites are in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties, both in the Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) Northern Kenya.The study results demonstrate the importance of adequate sensitisation of the key actors (government, political and community) at county level and the grass root communities, the use of participatory and inclusive processes to establish the community governance organs and fulfil the statutory requirements provided under this new law. The study also highlights the importance of the use of community champions to ensure the continuous sensitisation of community members, and to to galvanise the communities in the registration and management of their land.Through the study, communities were supported to develop basic tools to guide them in land use planning and investor negotiations. The land use planning guide developed will help the communities to liase with the county government to prepare a land use development plan which is expected to enhance the sustainable use of the community land, while the investor negotiation guide developed will be helpful during negotiations with investors interested in partnering with the communities for investments on their land. The use of the investor guides is expected to inform the preparation of mutually beneficial investor agreements as anticipated under the Community Land Act.It is expected that the lessons from the study, which include: community empowerment, use of participatory inclusive processes, ensuring gender equity in the composition of governance organs and in decision making processes, embracing the youth, use of champions and avoiding the negative impacts of the adjudication of community land will be useful to state and non-state implementers of the new law, and may be used to inform the scaling up implementation countrywide. It is also expected that gaps identified in the new law, such as the management of the inheritance rights of children married outside the community, and those divorced, will inform law review

Vulnerability to climate stress - local and regional perspectives

This report presents the proceedings of two related workshops, taking place in January/February 2005, that presented findings of the project ”Adaptation as a livelihood struggle: conflict and vulnerability among dryland populations in Kenya”. The research investigates how conflicts shape adaptation and contribute to vulnerability in the face of climate stress such as drought. One of the aims of the project is to contribute to national (Kenyan) and regional (East African) climate adaptation policy processes with regard to how the most vulnerable can be targeted. The two meetings were intended to address this particular project aim. The first workshop, taking place in Nairobi, was a forum for discussion of preliminary research findings from the Kitui and Turkana case study sites with national and regional policy makers, practitioners and researchers. This workshop, conducted jointy with the “Capacity building in Least developed countries regarding Adaptation to Climate Change (CLACC)” project, also included presentations regarding climate change adaptation research and policy development in the region. In the second workshop, taking place in Kitui Town, the Kitui case study findings were discussed with villagers as well as district and local administration and leaders

Dynamics of Drivers of Conflict in Water-Related Resource Scarcity: Focus on Lake Turkana Basin of Kenya

Lake Turkana basin, located in Turkana County of Kenya, has become a central point for studying the dynamics of conflicts resulting from water-related resource scarcity. The study sought to identify specific drivers of water use-related resource conflicts in the basin and was anchored on the Negotiation Theory. Historically, the semi-arid and arid regions of the Kenyan borders have experienced perennial conflicts between ethnic groups in the Lake Turkana Basin that revolve around scarce water-related resources on land and in water.  Using a descriptive study design, convenience sampling accessed 36 respondents through 36 questionnaires, interview schedules, three focus group discussions (FGDs), and an observation guide.  The study findings demonstrate that drivers of conflicts were not just locally domesticated but also had external factors and influences, including dynamics associated with inflammatory political speeches and economic and environmental factors resulting in a harsh climate. Additionally, high illiteracy, with over 45% having only primary school level education, cultural pressures where 75% male domination was observed, ethnic tensions, historical grievances, scarce critical resources which were only concentrated in a few locations, and geopolitical interests of neighbouring countries contributed to conflicts in the region. In conclusion, drivers of conflict must be carefully understood for long-term resolutions. The study limitations included remoteness and lack of infrastructure in the basin. Further research is recommended to establish whether the key drivers could be reversed in their efforts to drive conflicts to manage perennial conflicts.  Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms are highly recommended for managing these perennial water resource-related conflicts

Oyola and Wakesi in Kenya : locals adapting to effects of climate change

Efforts are being made to document how communities are responding to climate vulnerability challenges at the local level. This paper focuses on two communities, the Oyola and Wakesi peoples who reside on the fringes of Lake Victoria (Western Kenya). Researchers and community participants mapped out climate events and the effects on their communities. A summary was drawn of the problems and opportunities that were identified from the historical profile the communities had created. Coping strategies were enumerated along with new strategies, such as construction of water pans and canals for drainage and water storage