Determinants Of Agro-Pastoralists’ Participation In Emerging Land Markets And Its Effects On Livelihoods In Laikipia And West Pokot Counties, Kenya

Abstract

Pastoral lands have been facing turbulent transitions over time. They have become subject to encroachment and shifts in tenure, resulting in loss of the rangelands, induced sedentarization, a radical reduction in livestock numbers and erosion of pastoral land rights. Pastoral and agro-pastoral communities are and will continue being affected by these changes, thus increasing their vulnerability. However, with these challenges, land markets, due to individualized tenure have been on the rise in a bid to improve land access among the pastoral households. Land commoditization is now common where a majority of pastoralists are able to sell, buy, and rent in/out pieces of land. However, these changes are happening in the absence of empirical evidence on the factors influencing agro-pastoralists participation in the land markets. In order to address the aforementioned knowledge gap, this study was conducted in Laikipia and West Pokot Counties to analyze the determinants of agro-pastoralists participation in land markets and the effects it had on their livelihoods. Primary survey data was collected using focus group discussions and a household survey of 336 randomly selected respondents. Descriptive statistics, bivariate probit, Tobit and multiple regression models were applied in data analysis. Results from the bivariate model revealed that land size, tropical livestock units, education level and group membership influenced pastoralists’ decisions to rent in and out land, respectively. Results of the Tobit model showed that education level, type of tenure, tropical livestock units and off-farm income had significant positive effects on household income. The study recommends strengthening of tenure security by title deeds issuance to encourage more supply of land to the land markets. In order to improve education, sensitization programs on the importance of adult education should be implemented. For those able to attend the adult classes, there should be lunch provision as a means of motivating them. Such a move will encourage agro-pastoral enrollment and act as an incentive for them to stay in schools. Key words: Pastoralists, Land changes, Land markets, Livelihoods, Kenya