Privatizing pastoral lands: Economic and normative outcomes in Kenya

This article presents empirical data from household level studies and anthropological field research regarding the economic and normative outcomes of privatization of pastoral land among a Samburu community in Kenya. The privatization of land in Samburu fits neither the optimistic scenario of property rights theorists nor the gloomy forecasts of those who favor communal ownership in pastoral areas. While many households experienced gains from privatization this was due to the particular ways in which the process of land tenure change proceeded and how agriculture was integrated into their pastoral livelihood. Local level norms have emerged that reinforce the value of land ownership for residents and discourage land sales, effectively preserving the pastoral way of life. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.