Agricultural Change Among the Keiyo of Elgeyo- Marakwet County, 1894-1990
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AGRICULTURAL CHANGE AMONG THE KEIYO OF ELGEYO- MARAKWET COUNTY, 1894-1990 TUM METHUSELLA KIPKEMEI C50/CE/23867/2012 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN HISTORY OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY. FEBRUARY 2020 DECLARATION ii DEDICATION To my dear parents, Edwin K.Maru and Violah Maru to whom I dedicate this thesis. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My sincere acknowledgement goes to my supervisors Dr. Felistus Kinyanjui and Dr. Joel Imbisi of the Department of History, Archaeology and Political Studies, Kenyatta University for their keen insight and expertise which guided this study through every stage. I would also like to thank all members of staff of the History Department and School of Humanities and Social Sciences as a whole for their varied assistance. I am also grateful to the people who helped out in the field during data collection. I am deeply indebted to all my informants who selflessly gave their time for often unscheduled interviews. Special gratitude to Edwin Chirchir who was of great assistance in co-ordinating and carrying out oral interviews in the field. I acknowledge my colleagues in Murgusi High School for their moral support. I particularly want to thank Mr. Job Watima, Mrs. Tecla Kenny and Mrs. Lucy Barng’etuny for their support as my Principals in the period of study. Special gratitude goes to Mr. Watima for encouraging me to pursue this study at Kenyatta University. Special regards also goes to my classmates at Kenyatta University for the great encouragement we always gave to one another. This work also benefited greatly from staff members of various libraries. I would like to register my appreciation to the members of staff of Kenyatta University Library, University of Eldoret Library, Moi University Library, Kenya National Libraries (Eldoret branch) and not forgetting Kenya National Archives’ search room staff members for their invaluable assistance in this research. My special regards also goes to my dear wife, Jabby Jeniter Wakhoyo for her moral support and more importantly for taking good care of our lovely daughter, Maliah Chebet. iv Last but not least, I am thankful to God for making it possible for me to undertake this study. All glory and honor goes to him. v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AFC - Agricultural Finance Corporation ALDEV - African Land Development D.C - District Commissioner. E.M.S - Equator Saw Mill ICRAF - International Centre for Research in Agroforestry KFA - Kenya Farmers Association KAR - Kings African Rifles KCC - Kenya Co-operative Creameries NCPB - National Cereals and Produce Board O.I. - Oral Interview SAPS - Structural Adjustments Policies UCDB - Uasin Gishu Commodity Distribution Board. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION........................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION.............................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................... iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF MAPS........................................................................................................................... xii LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS ...................................................................................................... xiii DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMS ......................................................................... xiv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. xv CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the study ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem .......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Objectives of the study.............................................................................................................. 3 1.4 Research questions .................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Research premises ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.6 Justification and significance of the study ................................................................................ 4 1.7 Scope and limitations of the study ............................................................................................ 5 1.8 Study Locale ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.9 Literature Review...................................................................................................................... 6 vii 1.10 Theoretical framework .......................................................................................................... 13 1.11 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 17 1.111 Research design .................................................................................................................. 17 1.112 Target Population ................................................................................................................ 17 1.113 Sampling techniques ........................................................................................................... 18 1.114 Data collection and Research instruments .......................................................................... 18 1.115 Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................................ 20 1.116 Data Analysis. ..................................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................ 22 THE KEIYO ORIGINS, MIGRATION AND PRE-COLONIAL ECONOMY ................... 22 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 22 2.2 Origin, Migration and settlement. ........................................................................................... 22 2.3 Socio-Political Organization ................................................................................................... 26 2.4 Keiyo’s Pre-colonial Economy 1800-1894 ............................................................................. 29 2.4.1 Pre-colonial Land Tenure .................................................................................................... 29 2.4.2 Crop cultivation ................................................................................................................... 33 2.4.2.1 Soil Resource management. .............................................................................................. 44 2.4.2.2 Organic manure application .............................................................................................. 44 2.4.3 Animal Husbandry ............................................................................................................... 47 2.4.3.1 Pasture management ......................................................................................................... 53 viii 2.4.3.2 Controlled Access. ............................................................................................................ 54 2.4.4 Hunting and Gathering ......................................................................................................... 55 2.4.5 Agricultural Technology ...................................................................................................... 57 2.4.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 60 CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................... 61 COLONIAL AGRICULTURAL CHANGE IN KEIYO (1894-1963).................................... 61 3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 61 3.2 The Establishment of Colonial Rule in Keiyo land ................................................................ 61 3.3 Colonial Land policy in Keiyo ................................................................................................ 66 3.4 Crop production ...................................................................................................................... 71 3.5 Animal Husbandry .................................................................................................................. 80 3.6 Taxation and Labour Re-organization ...................................................................................