Planning and Environmental Risk in Kenyan Drylands

An evaluation is made of Kenyan government programs in arid and semi-arid areas which comprises 83% of the country. A description is given of the land base demography and traditional land uses. 6 ecological zones were established to reflect rainfall evapotranspiration and environmental potential. The driest zones are Zone IV V and VI in increasing order of dryness. Agricultural and pastoral lifestyles predominate. The national growth rate of 4% has resulted in pressure to occupy marginal areas. 3 million people inhabit Zones IV V and VI and another 1-1.5 million the dry areas of Zone III. Population growth rates are less than the national average in these zones; nonetheless there was deterioration of land resources overgrazing and famine. The premise is that adjustments to unpredictable natural hazards and human exploitation of natural resources were not the causes of deterioration but rather were interventions which disrupted the traditional system of hazard response. The programs increased the risk of living in these zones. Adjustments to deteriorating conditions have varied i.e. for pastoralist Masai have adopted cultivation and agro-pastoralists have begun to sell livestock and other available commodities. Changes in practices also involved intricate grazing cycles or avoiding insect-infested areas. The planning and policy-making to address poverty and land deterioration between the mid-1950s and 1983 are described. Development was based on a hierarchical system and spread widely in government to accomplish many activities. There were constraints to implementation; for those projects initiated in 1982-83 the constraints are identified and include mobilization of local support and establishment of local planning. The Kenyan government and European consultants found that integrated rural development schemes didnt work using the Machakos an Kitui projects as examples. Sustainable development has also suffered from worldwide recession the structure of the agricultural economy the development emphasis on the district level shifting donor priorities the weak link of dry lands to infrastructure and the national economy and other national Ministry changes.