Influence of Indigenous Ecological Agriculture Practices on Sustainable Farming among the Maasai Community in Kajiado County, Kenya

Indigenous Ecological Agriculture (IEA) practices have sustained pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods for generations, yet their contribution to contemporary sustainable farming remains inadequately documented. This study established the influence of IEA practices on sustainable farming among the Maasai community in Kajiado County, Kenya. A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving a household survey of 320 respondents, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings reveal that rotational grazing, indigenous soil and water conservation, ethno-veterinary practices, crop-livestock integration, and indigenous climate prediction significantly influence sustainable farming outcomes (R² = .61, p < .05). The study concludes that IEA practices remain critical drivers of environmental sustainability, livelihood resilience, and food security in semi-arid ecosystems. It recommends the integration of indigenous ecological knowledge into agricultural extension and climate adaptation policies.