Resource management and land rights

The issue of land rights, in terms of access and ownership of common grazing lands and water points is of paramount importance to pastoralist people across the Horn of Africa. EPAG UK recently attended a pastoralist gathering in Kajiado District, Kenya that was attended by pastoralists from all over Kenya as well as senior national and regional Kenya government representatives. The central issue raised by pastoralists at this gathering was their lack of land ownership and the lack of protection and respect of their land by outside companies and gamepark administrators. Pastoralists at the gathering talked of land abuse by companies dumping waste, drilling for oil and large scale irrigation schemes that would damage dry season grazing areas. Read more about the gathering.

Resource management and land ownership in Mandera District

In Mandera district the mobility of pastoralist people, in search of good grazing and available water, is becoming increasingly threatened. Research and information dissemination about Kenya Government policies on land and other issues affecting their livelihood sustainability. As part of the Mandera District drought contingency plan (September 2006), EPAG K supported the formation of 3 Disaster Committees and, in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, supported PHAST training for the committee members.