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©Kamla-Raj 2004 Stud. Tribes Tribals, 2(1): 55-63 (2004) Common Range, Different Tribes: Explaining Resource Use, Management and Productivity among the Akamba, Orma and Somali in the former Eastern Statelands of Kenya Dickson Mong’are Nyariki1 and Jan Van den Abeele2 1. Department of Range Management, University of Nairobi P.O. Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya Email: [email protected] 2. Forestry Development Support Programme, Belgian Technical Cooperation, P.O. Box 30513, Nairobi, Kenya KEYWORDS Common use; range management; resource conflicts; Eastern Statelands; Kenya ABSTRACT This paper describes the major livelihood activities of three ethnic communities who use in common the former Kenyan Eastern Statelands. It also looks at how the livelihoods and the range could be improved while maintaining the common access to resources, so as to avoid potential conflicts. It is suggested that for improvement of range management the unsettled lands should be accessed by all the communities under ranching societies without having to exclude non-members. A number of approaches should be instituted, including bush control and reseeding. Bush control can be achieved through exploitation of trees of low timber value for charcoal production to earn income for households. To increase livestock productivity, it is proposed that proper livestock and grazing management be practised, including the introduction of superior breeds, improved livestock facilities, adequate animal healthcare and rotational grazing through paddocking. INTRODUCTION and improve the living standards of the communities, the stakeholders and development The colonial government in Kenya set aside agents should rethink the use and management the former Eastern Statelands for State of this resource. The objective of this study was, management. These lands form the interface of therefore, to: the Akamba and Orma lands. Over the years, these - describe the current state of the range and its lands have provided common wet season grazing management in the former Statelands ground for the Akamba, Orma and Somali ethnic - analyse the actual use and occupation of the groups (tribes). They have also provided an communities using the lands important corridor for wildlife. Since indepen- - propose appropriate interventions that would dence, efforts towards utilising the lands in improve local livelihoods various ways have been put in place, mainly as a national reserve and ranching cooperative STUDY AREA societies. The latter have, however, largely failed. The former Eastern Statelands mainly cover The former Statelands are a unique range parts of Kitui and Mwingi Districts in the Eastern resource in that they are accessed by three Province of Kenya, about 160 km east of Nairobi. pastoral and agropastoral communities. Where Both districts have an area of 30,200 sq. km with a resource is accessed by more than one individual a population of about a million people, most of or community, it is referred to as the commons. whom are Akamba by ethnicity. The districts Under these conditions, resource use conflicts belong to two distinct physical regions—the land are a common feature as scarcity of resources above 1,000 m falls within the Eastern Highlands and competing users provide a recipe for such of Kenya and that below 1,000 m lies within the conflicts. However, there have been no such low foreland plateau of Kenya (Ojany and conflicts in this case, even though they cannot Ogendo, 1973). The eastern part of Kitui and be ruled out in future. Mwingi, within which the fomer Statelands are To avoid potential conflicts, as the common found, belongs to the latter region. The districts resource continues to diminish in the face of lie in a region that has generally been classified increasing human population and the need to as agro-ecological zone (AEZ) V (Pratt ad acquire more grazing to enhance food security Gwynne, 1977), but has several pockets of micro- 56 DICKSON MONG’ARE NYARIKI AND JAN VAN DEN ABEELE climates of higher potential influenced by differing activities. elevations. The area has a bimodal rainfall regime. In addition to the field visits, relevant literature The first rains of the year come in March/April was reviewed and archive work carried out in (first season) and the second in November/ government offices in Nairobi, Mwingi and Kitui. December (second season). On average the precipitation is 200 mm for the first season and RESOURCE ACCESS AND LIVELIHOODS 300 mm for the second season. In some areas like Livelihoods Endau Hills of Kitui, rains can be as high as 1,000 mm in some years. As one moves down-slope, so Because of the arid climate, the Akamba, rainfall diminishes. This precipitation is erratic particularly those inhabiting the fringes and parts with frequent general or localised droughts. of the former Statelands, engage in livestock Most of the former Eastern Statelands are production as their major economic activity. This bushland of Acacia-Commiphora ecological type also applies to their neighbours, the Orma, found (Ominde, 1968), with little grass cover. The on the eastern side of the former Statelands in population density varies with the degree of Tana River District, and the distant Somali from aridity. The density of the lowlands is low, Garissa District. However, the other most approximately 12 persons per sq. km while that in important livelihoods are cultivation and labour the wetter areas is as high as 228 persons per sq. migration (O’Leary, 1980). The Akamba and the km (ROK, 1997). Orma practise agropastoralism, but in different METHODS OF STUDY degrees; the former do agriculture more extensively and intensively and rely less on Several visits were made to the field to livestock for subsistence than the latter and the familiarise with the study area and to collect Somali who are more ‘pure’ pastoralists. primary data. Data and information involved Cattle, goats and (to a small extent) sheep are informal discussions with individual farmers and kept by the Akamba. In addition, the Orma and pastoralists, and barazas (focus group meetings) Somali keep camels. The common livestock breeds organised by the local chiefs comprising are the Boran, Zebu and their crosses and members of Sosoma and Enziu Cooperative Sahiwal—a superior Zebu breed in terms of both Societies and non-members of the societies meat and milk. The goats include the Galla, Small utilising both ranch land and the corridors East African (SEA) and crosses of Galla and Boer. between the national reserves and the ranches, Sheep of Red Maasai and Dorper breeds and their i.e., within the former Statelands. crosses are kept mainly in Mutitu, Kabati, Discussions with individual farmers and Mutomo and Yatta Divisions of Kitui District, but pastoralists centred on the sizes of the are rare in most parts of Mwingi District because households, livestock holdings, grazing areas and of a strong belief that eating mutton or keeping seasons of grazing, livestock movements and sheep reduces one’s protection against witchcraft times of movement, grazing (land) rights, (DRO, Mwingi, Personal communication). In some marketing of livestock, animal healthcare, parts of the districts, such as Central, Yatta and watering points, water availability and use, Kabati Divisions (Kitui) and around Mwingi problems of livestock production and marketing, Township (Mwingi District), dairy breeds are kept. and issues of access conflicts. These include crosses of Jersey, Sahiwal, The informal interviews with the management Guernsey, Ayrshire and Friesian. Farmers are of the ranches included a discussion on the advised by extension officers to keep exotic breeds history of the ranches, the objectives set and in these areas (ROK, 1997). Chicken are also kept whether these objectives had been met, livestock in homesteads under a free-ranging system. In production, and range management. For the focus the Akamba tradition chicken rearing is a woman’s group discussions involving both the farmers and activity (Assistant Chief, Katumbi, Personal pastoralists, who included the Akamba, Somali communication). Donkeys are kept as beasts of and Orma communities and the members and burden, but the Orma and Somali keep camels administration of the ranching cooperative both for transport and as a source of milk and societies, the issues were related to the major (rarely) meat. Donkeys are mainly used for problems faced in trying to execute the livelihood carrying water and, since the distances covered COMMON RANGE, DIFFERENT TRIBES 57 are long, it has become mandatory for a Mkamba the former Statelands (woiye, in Kikamba). The young man to acquire at least one before he can home grazing grounds consist either of the fenced be accepted by a bride-to-be (Assistant Chief, areas, which belong to households (isesi, in Twambui, Personal communication). Some men Kikamba), or unfenced communal land. As the also keep a few beehives, producing honey for name implies, rangelands in the former Statelands sale and for making the local brew (Karobo, in belong to the State and in practice are open as Kikamba). pastures to the residents of the lowlands—the Livestock are the main source of food and Akamba on the western part and Orma on the income for the three communities. The animals eastern part. They are also utilised by others from (cattle and goats) provide milk, which is taken elsewhere, including the upcountry Akamba and fresh and in tea or used to produce ghee. The the Somali from the distant north-east. Legally, animals are sold when cash is required to buy however, the former Statelands have been grains, pay fees or meet other domestic subdivided, part leased to two cooperative requirements. The Akamba are more exposed to ranches—Enziu (in Kitui District) and Sosoma (in the cash economy than the Orma and Somali and Mwingi District)—part in two corridors most raise their animals purely for the market. The (unallocated) and the rest is used as National traditional strategy of having large herds is no Reserves under the county councils.

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