Land Use Change and its Impacts on Rural Development in Bomorenda Ward of Kisii County:

An Assessment for Planning Interventions

Abstract

Kisii County is one of the most densely populated and rapidly urbanising counties in Kenya. Despite increasing land use change in the peri-urban and rural areas of the county, limited empirical evidence exists to guide planning interventions at the ward level. This study was conducted in Bomorenda Ward, Kisii County, to examine land use change between 2003 and 2023, identify the factors influencing the change, assess the impacts of the change on rural development, and recommend policy and planning strategies for sustainable land management and governance. A survey research design involving 79 randomly sampled households, key informants, focus group discussions, and Landsat 7 and 8 satellite imagery was employed. Time-series, descriptive, and content analyses were undertaken. The findings revealed that, within the 20-year period, agricultural land had decreased by 26.82% from 62.50% to 35.68%, while built-up land had increased by 30.39% from 14.75% to 45.14%. The main factors driving land-use change were population growth, land fragmentation due to inheritance, and unplanned development. The negative impacts of land use change on rural development included food insecurity, land conflicts, landlessness, and loss of livelihood opportunities, while the positive impacts included improved access due to new infrastructure. The study recommends the formulation of guidelines on permissible agricultural land sizes, sustainable tenure arrangements, intensification of farming to increase productivity, and value addition for all enterprises to achieve optimal utilisation of land. Other recommendations include the formulation and implementation of a land use plan with clear agricultural zones and urban boundaries that will promote clustered high-density residential and commercial developments.