On 26 August 2011 a Land Use Master Plan for the wider Kitengela area will be officially launched.
The launch of this historic plan will be led by the Chairman of the County Council of Olkejuado (CCO), the District Commissioner, Area Chiefs and other local leaders in Isinya. The 20-year Land Use Master Plan was formally adopted by the Ministry of Lands in February 2010 and by the CCO in June 2010.
The Kitengela-Isinya-Kipeto Land Use Plan is the first community-based land use plan to be approved by the Government of Kenya; thus setting a historical precedent for the Country.
“We strongly endorse this plan because it demonstrates that economic development can happen simultaneously with the protection of open space for pastoralism and wildlife” said Daniel ole Tenaai, Chairman of the Kajiado Pastoralist Forum, a grassroots forum that has provided support and leadership in this region.
The Kitengela-Isinya-Kipeto region, just south of Nairobi National Park, has been subject to a rapid rate of uncoordinated subdivisions, land sales and land conversion, which are severely threatening the future of pastoralism and wildlife. Development and sub-division is encroaching in the wildlife habitats and dispersal areas; increasing human/wildlife conflicts, environmental degradation and diminishing grazing lands; with detrimental effects on the people, livestock and wildlife.
Nairobi National Park, one of Kenya’s greatest assets, is dependent upon this area for wildlife. The change in land use and habitat fragmentation has put the Park at great risk and wildlife numbers are plummeting.
This rapid change and land use led to the initiation of the LUMP.
At the request of the County Council of Olkejuado, the Department of Physical Planning (DPP) embarked on a planning process in 2004, working closely with the community amongst other stakeholders.
The LUMP was prepared within the legal framework of the Physical Planning Act Cap 286, which empowers local authorities to control, guide and prohibit developments, while recognizing individual stakeholders and community participation.
The LUMP was done to balance economic development and rangeland conservation; promote sustainable use of natural resources; provide a plan for urban development, wildlife conservation and pastoralism; and stem the runaway urban sprawl and land fragmentation; while allowing participation of all stakeholders in planning.
“As a community member, I am very optimistic about this plan and was pleased to be involved in its development,” said Ogeli Makui, a resident in Kitengela. “Life for the Maasai is getting more difficult and we hope that this plan will help curb the threats to pastoralism and wildlife conservation.”
Chair, Kajiado Pastoralists Forum (KPF)
Moblie 0736222877
This is good information. How can one get access to the details of the Land Use Master Plan? which areas does it affect?
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