Land-use Transformation and Changes in Peri-urban Livelihoods in Kisii Municipality, Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Currently, more than 78% of the global population lives in towns and cities and the trend is likely to continue. Despite the importance of peri-urban areas as food production zone, increase in urban population has subjected agricultural land in peri-urban regions to severe pressure from a number of different and competing land uses. Eventually, resulting to transformation of quality and quantity of peri-urban agricultural land. This research therefore, aimed at establishing factors responsible for transformation of agricultural land to urban uses; its effects on peri-urban livelihoods; coping mechanisms; and proposing suitable peri-urban land-use planning options to overcome its undesirable effects. The study employed both simple random and purpose sampling techniques in aiding collection of field data and information. The former technique was used to collect data from farmers and land buyers while the latter from government offices. The field data was subjected to both descriptive and quantitative techniques for analysis, and finally presented using mean scores, percentages, tabular and graphical formats. Using mean scores, the study established that land inheritance practices, price of land, demand for residential housing, improved accessibility, and rising value of agricultural land in urban use, cost of rent at peri-urban area, and customary land tenure are the most significant factors of land-use transformation in the study area. Similarly, using mean scores, the study identified decline/loss of land holding sizes, decline of food production, irregular subdivision and transformation of agricultural land, decline of plant and animal species, decline/loss of farm income, and formation of new social networks as the most significant effects of land-use transformation in areas outside Kisii municipality. Further, the study established that residential income is the main source of income to farmers in the study area. To address the land-use transformation and its undesirable effects, the study recommended for development of physical and land use plan; zoning and classifying peri-urban land uses; development of policies and legislations for acquisition and transfer of development rights; promote land appropriation and banking; adopt urban containment and rural policies such new ruralism, and compact and polycentric city models. Finally, the study recommended further scientific studies on minimum allowable and economically viable land holding sizes; economic ways of providing affordable housing to remedy undesirable consequences of land-use transformation.