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By KPC Reporter
Kenya’s National Land Commission (NLC), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the European Union (EU) have sounded the alarm over rising land fragmentation in the country.
They warned that it poses a grave threat to food security in productive regions such as Kisii and Nyamira counties.
Findings released at Kisii University reveal that average land holdings in Nyamira have shrunk drastically—from about 20 hectares in the 1970s to less than one hectare today.
Thus, sustainable farming is becoming increasingly difficult.
Experts cautioned that unchecked subdivision is creating “rural slums” in the Gusii region and steadily undermining agricultural productivity.
“We are moving in a direction that is not sustainable. Productive land is being subdivided too rapidly. If this trend is not addressed, Kisii will struggle to feed itself,” the commission noted in its report.
Kisii University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nathan Ogechi, welcomed the report, emphasising the institution’s role in research and community outreach.
“As a university, we are privileged and grateful to the National Land Commission, FAO, and county leaders for launching this report here,” he said.
“Our duty is to ensure the research continues and, through extension services and community engagement, to take this conversation directly to farmers.”
He went on: “With our agricultural centre, we will partner with stakeholders to address land and natural resource challenges.”
The University of Nairobi, University of Embu, and the Technical University of Kenya were also represented at the event.
FAO’s Deputy Country Representative, Hamisi Williams, commended the approach, stressing the importance of engaging communities.
“The university stands in a unique position to convene this dialogue. With every county facing land fragmentation and each having a university, we can build a national framework to inform policy and legislation,” he said.
Development partners pledged continued support to ensure the findings translate into concrete action.
Stakeholders agreed that collaboration between universities, counties, and international partners is essential to securing Kenya’s agricultural future.