The Impact Of Increased Real Estate Development On Agro-Pastoral Lands In The Nairobi City Suburbs In Kenya

The combination of high land values and increased demand for houses in Nairobi and its suburbs, has led to high investment in real estate. The real estate developers have opted to purchase and development land into real estate products within agro-pastoral areas like the Kajiado County. This is due their cheap land values and proximity to the Nairobi city which is a major economic hub in the eastern Africa region. This paper explores the effects of the developments in real estate on agro-pastoral land in Kajiado County since the county has experienced massive developments in real estate in terms of increased property investment, high demand and supply of real estate property and land use changes.This paper explores the prevalence of real estate development; the effects of real estate development on agricultural activities, and the challenges in safeguarding pastoral activities within arid and semi-arid areas. The paper also explores the best practices that ought to be applied in order to safeguard the agricultural activities in arid and semi-arid areas and achieve sustainable real estate development in Kenya. This paper shall present the findings from Kajiado North District in the Northern part of Kajiado County which is situated next the Nairobi City County. The paper targets the recent real estate developments within the areas, near the city, and compares them with the agro-pastoral lands which are yet to be transformed. The paper will mainly focus on real estate developers, property owners, pastoralist and the key informants within the affected areas. The paper will summarise and conclude with a set of observations for creating a harmonious balance in the sustainable use of agricultural lands adjacent to major city suburbs and the continued sustainable pastoral practice in these affected areas.