Kenya's Water Towers Protection and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (WaTER) Programme LAND TENURE PROFILES IN ‘HOTSPOTS’ AND VULNERABLE AREAS ON PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY LANDS IN MT. ELGON AND CHERANGANY HILLS ECOSYSTEMS Component 4: Science to Inform Design of Community-Level Actionsand Policy Decisions Project Report August 2017 This programme is funded Kenya Forestry Research Institute By the European Union (KEFRI) Disclaimer “This document has been produced with financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), and can under no circumstance be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union” i Cover Photo: Paddocks for livestock grazing in seasonal wetland near Cheptongei area. (Photo by Griphin Ochieng) ii Consulting Services for client Kenya Forestry Research Institute P.O Box 20412-00200 Nairobi Final Report Compiled by: Environment Management Consultants Shelter Afrique Centre, 3rd floor Wing 3A Longonot Road, Upperhill P.O.Box, 9648-00100, NAIROBI Landline: +254-020-520-6162 Cell: +254-722-579272 [email protected] iii TABLE OF CONTENT LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................. VII LIST OF TABLE .................................................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF PLATES .................................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ X EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... XI INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. PROJECT BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER TWO: STUDY APPROACHES ............................................................................................ 2 2.1. STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................................... 3 2.2. TASK 1. LITERATURE REVIEW (DESKTOP REVIEW) & PROJECT PLANNING ........................... 3 2.2.1. Project Planning and Initial Contacts ................................................................................... 4 2.2.2. Literature Review (Desk Review of Secondary Information)................................................ 4 2.2.3. Fieldwork/Field Trips to Select Sub Project Sites ................................................................. 5 2.2.4. Fieldwork survey description ................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER THREE: LAND TENURE SYSTEM .................................................................................... 8 3.1. LAND TENURE SYSTEMS .............................................................................................................. 8 3.2. LEGISLATION, POLICIES RELATED TO LAND TENURE SYSTEM IN KENYA ................................. 9 3.3. FORMS OF LAND TENURE SYSTEMS IN KENYA ......................................................................... 11 3.3.1. Public land ............................................................................................................................ 11 3.3.2. Community land ................................................................................................................... 11 3.3.3. Private land ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.4. TRADITIONAL LAND TENURE MANAGEMENT AMONG COMMUNITIES IN SELECTED COUNTIES IN KENYA .................................................................................................................................. 13 3.4.1. Traditional Land Tenure Systems in Kisumu and Siaya Counties. .................................... 13 3.4.2. Traditional Land Tenure Systems in Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia counties .. 13 3.4.3. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Teso community................................................ 14 3.4.4. Traditional Land Tenure Systems in West Pokot, Trans-Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu and ElgeyoMarakwet counties ...................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.5. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Pokot community .............................................. 14 3.4.6. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Nandi community ............................................. 15 3.4.7. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among The Tugen ......................................................... 15 3.4.8. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Marakwet community ....................................... 15 3.4.9. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Sabaot group ..................................................... 16 3.4.10. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Kipsigis community .......................................... 16 3.4.11. Traditional Land Tenure Systems among Keiyo community .............................................. 16 3.5. LAND TENURE SYSTEMS GOVERNING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION .................................... 17 iv CHAPTER FOUR: LAND USE AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES IN MT. ELGON AND CHERANGANY ECOSYSTEMS ....................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1. BACKGROUND OF LAND USE IN MT. ELGON AND CHERANGANY ECOSYSTEMS .................... 19 4.1.1. Land use and economic resources in Vihiga county ........................................................... 19 4.1.2. Land use and economic resources in Trans Nzoia County ................................................. 20 4.1.3. Land use and economic resources in Siaya County ............................................................ 21 4.1.4. Land use and economic resources in Kisumu county ......................................................... 23 4.1.5. Land use and economic resources in Kakamega County .................................................... 24 4.1.6. Land use and economic resources in Busia County............................................................ 25 4.1.7. Land use and economic resources in Bungoma County ..................................................... 27 4.1.8. Land use and economic resources in West Pokot County ................................................... 29 4.1.9. Land use and economic resources in Nandi County ........................................................... 30 4.1.10. Land use and economic resources in Elgeyo Marakwet County ........................................ 31 4.1.11. Land use and economic resources in Uasin Gishu County ................................................ 32 4.2. MAJOR FORESTS ....................................................................................................................... 33 4.2.1. Cherangany Forests ............................................................................................................. 33 4.2.2. Mt. Elgon Forest ................................................................................................................... 35 4.2.3. Kakamega Forest .................................................................................................................. 37 4.2.4. Nandi forests ......................................................................................................................... 40 4.3. MAJOR WETLANDS ................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.1. Yala Wetland ......................................................................................................................... 44 4.3.2. Saiwa Swamp ........................................................................................................................ 46 4.3.3. Ziwa Lake ............................................................................................................................. 49 4.3.4. King’wal Swamp ................................................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER FIVE: LANDUSE, DEGRADATION AND CONSERVATION HOTSPOTS IN THE UPPER CATCHMENTS OF MT. ELGON AND CHERANGANY HILLS ECOSYSTEM .............................. 52 5.1. LAND USE OVERVIEW IN UPPER CATCHMENTS ...................................................................... 52 5.1.1. Land use in upper Cherangany Hills catchment ................................................................. 55 5.1.2. Land use in upper Mt. Elgon catchment ............................................................................. 56 5.2. LAND DEGRADATION IN THE UPPER CATCHMENTS OF MT. ELGON AND CHERANGANY HILLS ........................................................................................................................................ 56 5.2.1. Land degradation in Upper Cherangany Hills catchment .................................................