Dynamics of Devolution and the Land Question in Kenya: A Case Study of Laikipia County

Abstract

This paper examined dynamics of devolution and land questions in Kenya through a case study of Laikipia County. Among the critical areas of Kenya's 2010 Constitution reforms was land governance. Devolved land governance has encountered challenges in implementation, revealing deep tensions between constitutional aspirations and political-economic realities. This study employed a qualitative case study approach. It drew on multiple data sources to triangulate findings and ensure comprehensive analysis. Primary sources included constitutional and legislative texts, and secondary sources encompassed academic literature on devolution, land governance, and conflicts in Kenya generally and Laikipia specifically. The data collection period spans from 2010, when the Constitution was promulgated, through 2024, covering the entire devolution era to date. The study employed three complementary analytical frameworks. The study found that devolution has been constrained by institutional fragmentation, elite capture at the county level, limited capacity, and the persistence of structural inequalities inherited from the colonial period. Structures have, in some instances, amplified conflicts by introducing new arenas for political contestation without providing adequate mechanisms for addressing root causes. Devolution alone cannot resolve deep-seated land inequalities, and effective land governance requires complementary reforms, including redistributive measures, strengthened inter-governmental coordination, and genuine engagement with historical injustices. The paper contributes to understanding the limitations of institutional fixes in contexts of profound inequality and offers policy recommendations for strengthening Kenya's devolution framework while addressing the structural dimensions of the land question.