Land Use Changes and Human-Wildlife Conflict in Kajiado County, Kenya

Purpose: The broad objective of the study was to assess the effect of Land Use Changes on Human Wildlife Conflict in Kajiado County, Kenya. The specific land use changes that was focused on comprised of settlement pattern changes and agricultural expansion. Methodology: The Land Tenure Theory and Habitat Suitability Theory anchored the study. The study used descriptive design targeting the local community representatives, farmers and pastoralists, wildlife rangers and officers, community leaders, Government and County Officials and Wildlife Conservation Organizations. In total, the target population comprised of 2419 respondents. A stratification of the population was done to enhance sampling while random sampling was applied to identify the specific respondents from ach stratum. A sample size of 343 respondents was determined using Cochran's formula. A combination of structured questionnaires and semi structured interview guides were employed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using mean and standard deviation and Pearson Correlation Coefficient for inferential analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the analysis were displayed in form of tables and figures. Findings: The study established that land use changes comprising of settlement pattern changes and agricultural expansion positively and significantly affect human wildlife conflict in Kajiado County. This was depicted by beta values of 0.538 and 0.411. The study concluded that increase in the land use changes increases animal wildlife conflicts in Kajiado County. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends regulating settlement patterns, and implementing wildlife friendly farming to minimize human wildlife conflicts in Kajiado County.