Kakamega County Sustainable Land and Forest Management Policy 2022

Abstract

Agriculture is important in Kenya’s national economy as it contributes to 27.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the survival of the Kenyan population is thus directly dependent almost entirely on land to derive goods and services. The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 assures Kenyans of the right to be free from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality in accordance to Article 43(c) and to clean and safe water in adequate quantities (Article 43(d)). Kakamega County is characterized by low agricultural productivity, and inadequate off-farm income opportunities which have contributed to food insecurity in the County. These challenges have compelled smallholder farmers to encroach into forest lands which are still fairly fertile, and also to seek alternative sources of income from timber, fuel wood, fodder and medicinal herbs. Consequently, the forest is severely threatened despite its multiple socioeconomic and environmental benefits to the over half a million inhabitants of the County. Several policy issues were identified through a participatory approach which involved various stakeholders including agriculture sector institutions and community organizations. These issues have continued to constrain the development of the agriculture sector due to inappropriate use of land and forest management technologies to curb land degradation and encroachment into the forests. The policy issues included; land degradation through human activities, soil erosion, declining soil fertility, poor water management, drying up of water sources such as springs and streams, vulnerabilities due to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns among others.