The Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative (DLCI) is urging for stronger recognition, registration, and protection of community lands in Kenya.
The organization explained that secure land rights are critical for strengthening pastoralist livelihoods and building resilient dryland economies.
According to DLCI, community land rights go beyond legal ownership; they are a foundation for sustainable resource management, peace, and economic growth.
When land is secured, pastoralist communities can better plan grazing cycles, attract investment in livestock, energy, and natural resources, and promote peaceful coexistence among communities.
“Community land is the backbone of pastoralist livelihoods. Without secure rights, communities risk losing access to vital rangelands and water sources,” DLCI noted.
The organization emphasized that recognition, registration, and protection of community lands are essential steps toward strengthening governance, reducing conflicts, and ensuring long-term resilience in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions.
DLCI is calling on policymakers to bridge the gap between policy and practice by accelerating efforts to secure community lands, describing it as a key step toward unlocking Kenya’s future prosperity.
Land rights in Kenya are protected by the Constitution, which recognizes various tenure systems including freehold, leasehold, public land, community land, and customary land rights.
While freehold grants indefinite ownership, leasehold is a limited term, common in urban areas and for non-citizens. Customary rights are also legally recognized, and the Community Land Act empowers communities to manage their land.
Key legislation like the Land Act, 2012 governs land transactions and dispute resolution, while the Law of Succession Act ensures gender equality in inheritance.