Restoring Mayanat community land in Laikipia County

By Judith Kiplagat and Pamela Kadima

As Kenya fights the effects of land degradation, the members of Mayanat community land, who are pastoralists in nature have started community led initiatives to restore their land.

However, these efforts have been hampered by the invasive Opuntia locally referred to as’Maua Ya Mzungu’ that has occupied a huge percentage of the land and keeps sprouting even after being uprooted.

Through the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the community embarked on uprooting the invasive Opuntia which had occupied all the land. This was through inclusive conservation approaches by digging semi-circular bunds and swells to reduce soil erosion and to help in water retention.

Currently 50% of the land has been restoredand part of it is being used to as a demo plot on the importance of conserving land.

Women are fully involved in decision making, with a five-member representation out of 15 members of the Mayanat Community land Management.  According to Nguyai Leimaiyan a board member, the all-inclusive approach has economically empowered the Maa women by enabling them to earn sustainable income who are involved in uprooting Opuntia and planting grass.

Despite the major steps undertaken to restore that land, waterremains a major challenge to this community. The women go far insearch for water for domestic use and their animals.

The restoration of the Mayanat Community land has reduced conflicts between the community and the private ranch owners, because of the increased capacity building by partners, funding conservation in Laikipia County.

The digitization and digitalization of land in Laikipia county has also been credited in helping the community understand private and community land boundaries.

Mayanat is one of the private ranches in Laikipia county that was converted to a community land. In 2016, the Government of Kenya enacted the Community Land Act, that enables local communities to legally own their communal lands.