| dc.description.abstract | The habitat required by Kenya's wildlife, one of its most famous and economically
valuable resources is increasingly threatened by increasing levels of poverty and
the country's soaring rate of population growth. Farmers are being forced onto land
that is marginal or unsuitable for agriculture, and traditional habitats of wildlife
and pastoral communities are also threatened. The parks and reserves that offer
protection to wildlife are being isolated as the traditional dispersal areas
surrounding the protected areas are converted to food production using methods
"hostile to wild animals. Reduced habitat undermines the long-term viability of ,
Kenya's irreplaceable wild animal populations and the tourist industry they
support. The search for ecologically appropriate solutions to the conflict between
food production and wildlife habitat has reached crisis proportions in a number of
areas. One such area is the Kitengela Game Conservation/dispersal area. Solutions
to this challenge are urgently needed. This study is expected to make a
contribution to that such.
The study sets out to achieve four objectives. First, to find out the origin, types and
causes of the human-wildlife conflict in Kitengela Game Conservation Area.
Secondly, to find out the effects of this conflict to both humans and wildlife.
Thirdly, to assess the coping mechanisms that are being used by the people who
have moved into this area and the wildlife department that is charged with the
responsibility of managing and protecting wildlife; and fourthly, to determine
possible ways of reducing or managing this human-wildlife conflict to ensure the
sustenance of the essential Nairobi National Park.
Data for the research was obtained both from primary and secondary sources.
Primary data consisted of data from the field through the use of questionnaires,
oral interviews, focus group discussions and observations. This information covers
aspects such as the peoples' attitude to the wildlife and the general trend of
activities III the area as well as the general ways of reducing the conflict.
Secondary sources included published and unpublished materials for the study area
and the topic in general. This was obtained from books, journals, KWS and
government publications, theses and maps. In total, 87 households, 6 ranch owners
and 6 other stakeholders form the sample size for this study.
From the research, it was found out that, the conflict in the area has increased as
settled population increases every year. The high rate of urbanization in the
metropolitan city of Nairobi and other smaller urban centres of Ongata Rongai,
'Kiserian, Kitengela, Kajiado and Athi River have necessitated the movement of
people even into the conservation area posing a great danger to wildlife especially
the migratory species that pass through the study area. It was also found that land
sub-division and land sales in uneconomical plot sizes due to the increasing
poverty and changing lifestyles among the Maasai people is hindering long-term
conservation efforts in the area. The study found that a non-participatory approach
in wildlife management and conservation has contributed to the problems
experienced in reconciling the needs of the people and wildlife. A general
approach similar to 'CAMPFIRE' programme that was found to be working in
Zimbabwe is recommended for the area-as a tool in the management of the human wildlife
conflict for sustainable development in the area and country at large | en |
