LAND AND OTHER FOREST RESOURCE USE DYNAMICS IN THE MAU FOREST, KENYA, 1880-2018

Abstract

The Mau Forestland has recently become a subject of intense public debate and national politics especially regards to issues such as ethnicity, land question, environmental conservation and management and electoral politcs in general. The forest land has historically been experiencing massive degradation heading to complete decimation. The situation has triggered conflicts among communities and between these communities and the government. Land use dynamics in the exploitation of forest resources are responsible for continued depletion reaching alarming levels by the beginning of the twenty-first century. The study thus attempts to account for land use changes in the Mau Forest between 1600 and 2018. The study interrogated land use change over time in the Mau Forest to give a deeper understanding of its history that will eventually give solutions to the diminution challenge. This is because solutions to human and ecological challenges are best solved when one first understands the underlying historical topography. The study adopted Beinart’s and Blaikie's views on political ecology theoretical frameworks. A wide range of interconnected methods of data collection was employed in the hope that a better fix on historical facts would be achieved. In that case, this study adopted an ex-post facto research design. The study also adopted the purposive sampling method. The data inputs were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Data was then presented by the use of figures, tables, and pictures especially when showing how patterns have changed over time. Interpretation was backed by explanations in a narrative form by pegging theories with facts. It was found that pre-colonial land use and conservation were based on the co-existence of humanity and nature. The colonial forestland administration resulted in the diminution of customary rights, as well as the decline of traditional conservation and management systems. During the post-colonial period, the Mau Forestland became the centre of human rights abuses, politics, impoverishment and depletion. Efforts put in place for forest reclamation are bearing fruits as a result of multi-sectoral efforts and the enactment of the constitution and its subsequent legislative reforms.