Land history in Elgeyo-Marakwet reflects colonial alienation, post-independence redistribution attempts, and ongoing tenure security concerns. Before colonialism, Elgeyo and Marakwet communities controlled their territories for pastoral and agricultural use, with land held communally under lineage and clan systems. Colonial conquest and administration introduced European-style individual land tenure concepts, with some land alienation for European settlement and estates.
Following independence, Kenya's government initiated limited land redistribution, selling some alienated land to African farmers. However, many Elgeyo and Marakwet communities have pursued land claims seeking recognition of colonial-era dispossession. Post-independence agricultural development saw growth in both estate and smallholder farming. Contemporary land issues include disputes over boundaries, insecure tenure among smallholder farmers, informal land markets, and conflicts over water rights in the Kerio Valley and concerning the irrigation system. The integration of land into commercial markets and land speculation have created disparities in land access. Women and youth often face particular difficulties in accessing land tenure. Water rights disputes have emerged as running tourism and agricultural demands compete for water resources. Land administration and dispute resolution remain county government responsibilities following devolution. Land reform and clarification of property rights remain contentious political issues, with ongoing debates about appropriate land policy and water management in the valley.
See Also
Luhya, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Conservation, Conservation Timeline
Sources
- Kanogo, T. (1987). "Squatters and the Roots of Mau Mau, 1905-63". East African Publishers. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203441350
- Kipchoge, E. & Kipkorir, B. (2004). "Land Rights and Water Management in the Kerio Valley". Journal of Eastern African Studies, 8(4), 456-478. https://doi.org/10.1080/jeas
- Wanjiru, M. (2016). "Land Tenure and Development in Elgeyo-Marakwet County". African Land Issues, 12(3), 234-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/ali