An Investigation of Causes of Land Management Challenges in Satellite Towns. A Case Study of Ruiru Municipality

Abstract

This research project paper explores land management challenges in a periurban setting.The study has examined land use, tenure systems, and categories of land in Kenya in general and identifies the ones that are applicable to the study area. The research has further examined the existing land uses in relation to the factors that have contributed to land use conversion. Thorough analysis of the legal and institutional frameworks under which land is managed forms the core of this paper. The information has been collected through various primary and secondary data collection methods. Primary data collection methods included: House hold questionnaires, focused group discussions, participant observation and interview schedules. A sample size of 40 households was interviewed. Secondary data was gathered from literature review of journals, internet, and government publications. The study has established that land management challenges are manifested in uncontrolled subdivisions, land use changes from agricultural to urban uses like residential, commercial, light industrial and educational among others. The factors that have contributed to the land conversion include economic considerations, institutional and legal weaknesses, population growth and land tenure systems. In the study area the tenure system was found to be freehold thus making controlling development difficult since there are no development conditions attached to the title documents of this kind of land. The study concludes that the changing land uses brought about by various forces have led to unsustainable land utilization. The study recommends various strategies that will ensure sustainable land resource utilization. These include formulation of land use policy, harmonizing of the statutes under which land is managed and have a coordinated approach by the implementing agencies among others.