Kaufmann, Brigitte

In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, which constitute 80% of the country’s landmass, pastoralists depend on mobile land use to manage common resources. Governance of these resources is guided by both legal and customary rules. Historically, community-based governance of the commons has facilitated sustainable resource use through collaborative management practices. However, in the last decade, these systems have been increasingly threatened by competition for rangelands from green energy initiatives, carbon projects, and government policies that often disregard pastoralists’ claims to control and access resources. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the underlying knowledge that informs decision-making within existing structures and practices of rangeland governance among the Borana and Rendille pastoral communities in Marsabit County. Data was collected using a mixed-method approach, including net maps, activity knowledge analysis, focused group discussions, and key informant interviews over twelve months. The study reveals that communities rely on elders’ knowledge from past experiences to ensure sustainable use of common resources. Among the Rendille, ‘Eween’ elders make important decisions regarding seasonal land use and allocation of resources to different livestock species. Similarly, the Borana ‘Jars Dedha’ elders are consulted on decision-making and solving disputes over resource use. However, among the Borana, there have been noticeable shifts towards individual decision-making of formal authorities such as chiefs as compared to the consultative and central decision-making nature among the Rendile. By understanding the embedded knowledge, local structures, and pastoral values, policymakers can better align reforms/policies with the realities of land-use practices. This alignment is essential for fostering more equitable and sustainable outcomes for pastoral communities. This research contributes to ongoing dialogues on empowering pastoralists through further explorations of the important role of local governance structure. It highlights the need for policymakers to acknowledge and integrate local governance systems into development strategies.