Land Tenure Frontiers and Food Security among Maasai Pastoralists in Kenya

Rutten, Mario

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-4888-7_10

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…One of the aims of the state in setting up group ranches was to provide legal title to areas that the Maasai had historically used for centuries, which could then be used as collateral to finance infrastructure developments and to increase the economic value of pastoralists' livestock to the state (Galaty 1992). Additionally, the state sought to reduce stocking rates and land degradation in pastoral areas (Rutten 1992; Behnke and Muthami 2011). However, the formation and operation of the group ranches were unequal across disparate social groups.…”

Section: Political Geographies Of Resource Control Around the Mara Rementioning

confidence: 99%

The Political Ecology of ‘Incursions’: Livestock, Protected Areas and Socio-Ecological Dynamics in the Mara Region of Kenya

Butt

2014

Africa

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Across the world, the presence of domestic animals in protected areas (PAs) is considered an ‘incursion’ that threatens the economic and ecological viability of these areas. Dominant narratives about incursions inaccurately describe the relationships between people and PAs because they lack adequate contextualization. In this paper, I rely on a political-ecological framework to argue for an alternative narrative. Through a case study from a PA in southern Kenya, I demonstrate how incursions are instead modern co-productions that arise from the intersections between changing political geographies of resource control and variable animal geographies of resource utilization – thus clarifying a long-standing debate about the presence of domestic animals in PAs. I rely on direct empirical and supporting evidence from place-based studies to illustrate the spatial and temporal differences in resource access strategies of wildlife and livestock within and outside the PA. I contrast these against changing land tenure and resource management policies to highlight how livestock movements into PAs are patterned in ways that reflect the changing nature of PA management, the material conditions of the landscape, and the agency of animals. Through these investigations, this paper provides a more accurate and nuanced explanation for livestock movements into PAs.

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Section: Political Geographies Of Resource Control Around the Mara Rementioning

confidence: 99%

The Political Ecology of ‘Incursions’: Livestock, Protected Areas and Socio-Ecological Dynamics in the Mara Region of Kenya

Butt

2014

Africa

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“…, 1999). In particular, land tenure has emerged as the crucial dimension in the economic, social, and/or environmental sustainability of land use (Galaty, 1992; Niamir‐Fuller, 1999; Rutten, 1992; Ruttan and Borgerhoff‐Mulder, 1999). Even though the Maasai communities around Amboseli constitute a relatively cohesive cultural and ethnic group with established institutions for collaborative regulation of resource access, there is strong competition of leadership based on clans.…”

Section: Challenges In Harmonizing Livelihoods and Environmental/ mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconciling people's livelihoods and environmental conservation in the rural landscapes in Kenya: Opportunities and challenges in the Amboseli landscapes

Okello

Seno

Nthiga

2009

Natural Resources Forum

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Two of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2000 are: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; and ensuring environmental sustainability. The link between depressed livelihoods and unsustainable use of land and natural resources can be seen in Kenyan rangelands. Here, the local community is dependent on land and its resources for livelihoods, but the demand and competition is increasing, endangering both the resources they depend on and threatening environmental health. Amboseli is an Arid and Semi‐Arid Land (ASAL) area that experiences ecological constraints, resource limitations, and low economic investment. Local communities in such landscapes are resource‐dependent for their daily livelihoods, and have few socio‐economic opportunities. Pastoralism, which is the main source of their wealth, continues to decline and exploitation by a few local elites and poor local leadership further depresses livelihoods. Other challenges to these poor rural landscapes are increasing human population which increases demands on natural resources and environment; persistent hunger; low universal primary education; poor gender equality and empowerment of women; environmental degradation; and lack of local and global partnership for development. This paper focuses on the two Millennium Development Goals mentioned above. Linkages, challenges and opportunities in enhancing rural livelihoods while promoting environmental sustainability in rural landscapes of the Amboseli Rural Landscape are discussed.

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“…Subdivision yielded an average parcel size significantly smaller than that needed to raise livestock in Kajiado’s arid and semiarid climate (see BurnSilver and Mwangi, 2007; Kimani and Pickard, 1998; Mwangi, 2007; Rutten, 1992, 2008). Consequently, livestock production—historically the region’s chief source of income—declined (BurnSilver, 2016; Campbell et al, 2000; Leeson and Harris, 2018; Rutten, 2008).…”

Section: Methodological Pits In Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Testing rational choice theories of institutional change

Leeson

Harris

2018

Rationality and Society

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Having empirically identified institutions as critical determinants of socioeconomic outcomes, social scientists are starting to turn their attention to empirically identifying sources of institutional change. Rational choice scholars offer two theories of such change: conflict theory and cooperation theory. We highlight crucial but easily overlooked methodological issues involved in attempting to evaluate these theories empirically. To do so, we critically examine Coleman and Mwangi’s study of property evolution among Maasai pastoralists in Kajiado, Kenya. Lessons from our examination, we hope, will help this burgeoning area of research proceed productively.

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Land Tenure Frontiers and Food Security among Maasai Pastoralists in Kenya

Cited by 12 publications

References 4 publications

The Political Ecology of ‘Incursions’: Livestock, Protected Areas and Socio-Ecological Dynamics in the Mara Region of Kenya

The Political Ecology of ‘Incursions’: Livestock, Protected Areas and Socio-Ecological Dynamics in the Mara Region of Kenya

Reconciling people's livelihoods and environmental conservation in the rural landscapes in Kenya: Opportunities and challenges in the Amboseli landscapes

Testing rational choice theories of institutional change

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