Oil and tenure governance in Kenya’s drylands

The case study “Triggering the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Responsible Governance of Tenure in the context of oil extraction in Kenya’s Turkana County” presents the case of the appropriation of pastoral lands by the coming of large-scale oil extractive industry in Turkana, northern Kenya. This case study is meant to inform and raise awareness among local and global civil society, development experts, policymakers and the general public regarding the precarious situation of the local pastoralists who lack secure access rights to land in the context of this new economic development. Some recommendations are made regarding the scope and applicability of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGTs), especially the technical guide “Improving governance of pastoral lands” and its application in this context.

In addition, a pamphlet in Swahili “Kustawisha Utawala wa Ardhi za Ufugaji wa kuhamahama”, based on the VGGT guide to improving the governance of pastoral lands, has been produced to inform pastoralist communities regarding the VGGT and its applicability in securing their rights to resources. The pamphlet also speaks to local administrators regarding the principles enshrined in the VGGT, which is a country-endorsed mechanism for securing land resources and livelihoods for pastoralist communities.

Both publications were produced by the Eastern and Southern Africa Pastoralist Network (ESAPN), a partner of CELEP, with support from the FAO Pastoralist Knowledge Hub.

Posted on 25 November 2018 in Pastoralism & Natural Resources, Pastoralism, Mobility & Land Tenure, Pastoralism, Policy & Power