SOCIO-POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND HISTORICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING LAND CONFLICTS IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA
Keywords:
Land conflicts, Nakuru County, socio-political, economic factors, Land Policies, Land Reforms, social fragmentation, Land-Based Displacement, Land Scarcity, dispute resolution mechanisms
Abstract
This study examined the historical, socio-political, and economic factors driving land conflicts in Nakuru County, Kenya. Historically, the findings reveal that colonial land alienation and the subsequent failure of post-independence land reforms entrenched structural injustices that continue to shape land disputes. Socio-politically, political patronage, corruption, and ethnic fragmentation particularly evident during the 2007–2008 post-election violence exacerbated tensions, resulting in widespread displacement and contested claims. Economically, rapid population growth, urbanisation, and the expansion of commercial agriculture intensified competition for scarce land resources, straining relations among small-scale farmers, pastoralists, and urban developers. The research adopted a qualitative design, employing interviews and focus group discussions with landowners, displaced persons, local authorities, and government officials. The study concludes that land conflicts in Nakuru County stem from a complex interplay of historical injustices, socio-political manipulation, and economic pressures. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-pronged strategy that ensures equitable land redistribution, transparent governance, secure tenure systems, and community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.
References
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Mwaura, M. (2021). The significance of qualitative methods in studying land disputes in Kenya. Journal of East African Development Studies, 20(2), 152.
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Obioha, E. E. (2013). Changing land reforms and conflict over land in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of African Studies, 44(3), 209–225.
Odanga, G. M., Iteyo, C., & Onkware, K. (2022). Strategies employed in managing inter-ethnic conflicts occasioned by national elections in Nakuru County between 1992 and 2017. The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, 9(11), 7357–7360.
Ongowo, A., Wokabi, N., & Kibet, L. (2015). Commercial agriculture and smallholder marginalization in Kenya. Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, 31(2), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.1353/eas.2015.0019
Onguny, P., & Gillies, D. (2009). The politics of land and ethnic conflict in Kenya. Canadian Journal of African Studies, 43(1), 53–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00083968.2009.10751364
Onguny, P., & Gillies, J. (2019). Land, ethnicity, and political violence in Kenya. African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review, 9(2), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.9.2.01
Onguny, P., & Gillies, T. (2019). Land conflict in Kenya: A comprehensive overview of literature. Journal of East African Studies, 53(1), 53–72.
Patton, M. (2009). Understanding land conflict in Kenya. United States Institute of Peace.
Sorrenson, M. P. K. (2016). Land, power, and conflict in Kenya: Historical perspectives. Journal of East African Studies, 10(1), 49–67.
Steeven, J., Milimu, A., & Omuchesi, J. (2025). Persistent land evictions and ethnicised conflicts in Kenya’s Rift Valley: Implications for peacebuilding. International Journal of Peace and Security Studies, 12(1), 55–72.
Steeven, M., Milimu, C., & Omuchesi, P. (2025). Land dispossession, poverty, and social cohesion in East Africa: Lessons from Kenya. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 27(2), 1007–1021.
Too, P. T., & Arusei, E. (2011). Historical injustices and ethnic conflicts in the Rift Valley: The case of the Nandi. African Journal of History, 19(1), 98–112.
Willkomm, M., Follmann, A., & Dannenberg, P. (2021). Rapid urbanisation and land conflicts in secondary cities: The case of Nakuru, Kenya. Cities, 112, 103–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103188
Chacha, P. (2025, May 19). Personal interview with the author. Interview with member of Land Sub-County Committee. (2025, May 15). Personal communication.
Cherotich, J., Obulinji, J., & Karanja, M. (2024). Land inequality and electoral violence in Kenya: The case of Rift Valley. African Journal of Peace and Development Studies, 9(2), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.37284/ajpds.9.2.2024
Detges, A. (2012). Local conditions of drought-related violence in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of resource scarcity and ethnic cleavages. Journal of Peace Research, 49(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343311426165
Emuria, L. A., & Kiruthu, F. (2022). Effect of national government administration officers on the resolution of land inheritance disputes in Nakuru County, Kenya. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2(1), 37–52.
Foeken, D. (2006). To subsidise my income: Urban farming in an East-African town. Brill.
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. (2008). IDPs high on the agenda: October–December 2008 situation report. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.
International Crisis Group. (2021). Kenya’s political violence: A growing threat to peace and stability (p. 20). International Crisis Group.
Kanyinga, K. (2009). The legacy of the white highlands: Land rights, ethnicity and the post-2007 election violence in Kenya. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 27(3), 325–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589000903154834
Kanyinga, K. (2017). Devolution and the politics of development in Kenya. In P. Boone & S. F. Chege (Eds.), Kenya: The struggle for a new constitutional order (pp. 107–126). African Centre for Technology Studies Press.
Kanyinga, K. (2017). Land and the politics of resource control in Kenya. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
Kanyinga, K. (2017). Land and the politics of resource control in Kenya (p. 84–85). Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
Kemboi, H. (2025, May 16). Personal interview with the author.
Kenya Land Alliance. (2020). Land use, ownership, and landlessness in Nakuru County: A report on land tenure issues. Nairobi: Kenya Land Alliance.
Kenya Land Alliance. (2020). The status of land governance in Kenya: A baseline review and report. Kenya Land Alliance.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. (2013). Land conflicts in Kenya: A review of the 2007–2008 post-election violence impact on land tenure (pp. 29). Nairobi: KNCHR.
Lindén, G. (2012). From constitutional law to reality: A field study on the new Kenyan constitution’s effects on land conflicts [Master’s thesis, Lund University]. Lund University Publications.
Momanyi, A., Simiyu, D., & Muchanga, P. (2023). Land disputes, governance, and inter-ethnic conflicts in Kenya: Lessons from the Rift Valley. Journal of African Governance and Development Studies, 15(1), 88–105.
Momanyi, B., Simiyu, R., & Muchanga, M. (2023). Land conflicts and ethnic relations in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Journal of African Studies and Development, 15(4), 95–104. https://doi.org/10.5897/JASD2023.0667
Momanyi, Z. K., Simiyu, R. N., & Muchanga, K. (2023). The impact of resource utilization practices on inter-ethnic conflicts in Nakuru County, Kenya. African Journal of Empirical Research, 4(2), 45–61.
Mubangizi, J. C. (2020). Land disputes in Kenya and the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. International Journal of Land Law, 18(3), 161.
Mubangizi, J. C. (2020). Land disputes in Kenya and the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. International Journal of Land Law, 18(3), 161.
Mwaura, C. (2021). Land politics, displacement, and peacebuilding in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Conflict, Security & Development, 21(2), 153–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2021.1885041
Mwaura, M. (2021). The significance of qualitative methods in studying land disputes in Kenya. Journal of East African Development Studies, 20(2), 152.
Nyaga, E. N., Mose, G. N., Ichuloi, A., & Okeche, P. (2020). Challenges to secure land ownership and their implications to social cohesion in Nakuru County, Kenya. International Journal of Social Research and Humanities, 3(4), 12–25.
Nyaga, J., Mose, L., Ichuloi, E., & Okeche, S. (2020). Land access and ethnic conflict in Kenya: A case of Nakuru County. African Journal of Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, 3(3), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.48346/AJLPGS.V3I3.62
Obioha, E. E. (2013). Changing land reforms and conflict over land in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of African Studies, 44(3), 209–225.
Odanga, G. M., Iteyo, C., & Onkware, K. (2022). Strategies employed in managing inter-ethnic conflicts occasioned by national elections in Nakuru County between 1992 and 2017. The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, 9(11), 7357–7360.
Ongowo, A., Wokabi, N., & Kibet, L. (2015). Commercial agriculture and smallholder marginalization in Kenya. Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, 31(2), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.1353/eas.2015.0019
Onguny, P., & Gillies, D. (2009). The politics of land and ethnic conflict in Kenya. Canadian Journal of African Studies, 43(1), 53–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/00083968.2009.10751364
Onguny, P., & Gillies, J. (2019). Land, ethnicity, and political violence in Kenya. African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review, 9(2), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.9.2.01
Onguny, P., & Gillies, T. (2019). Land conflict in Kenya: A comprehensive overview of literature. Journal of East African Studies, 53(1), 53–72.
Patton, M. (2009). Understanding land conflict in Kenya. United States Institute of Peace.
Sorrenson, M. P. K. (2016). Land, power, and conflict in Kenya: Historical perspectives. Journal of East African Studies, 10(1), 49–67.
Steeven, J., Milimu, A., & Omuchesi, J. (2025). Persistent land evictions and ethnicised conflicts in Kenya’s Rift Valley: Implications for peacebuilding. International Journal of Peace and Security Studies, 12(1), 55–72.
Steeven, M., Milimu, C., & Omuchesi, P. (2025). Land dispossession, poverty, and social cohesion in East Africa: Lessons from Kenya. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 27(2), 1007–1021.
Too, P. T., & Arusei, E. (2011). Historical injustices and ethnic conflicts in the Rift Valley: The case of the Nandi. African Journal of History, 19(1), 98–112.
Willkomm, M., Follmann, A., & Dannenberg, P. (2021). Rapid urbanisation and land conflicts in secondary cities: The case of Nakuru, Kenya. Cities, 112, 103–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2021.103188
