Assessing The Socio-Economic Effects of Forced Evictions on the Displaced Communities in the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya

Abstract

The Mau Forest Complex was Kenya’s largest mountain forest and a crucial source of water and biodiversity. However, efforts to conserve this ecosystem through strict environmental policies led to the forced eviction of communities that had lived and worked in the forest for generations. This study examined how those evictions affected the social and economic livelihoods of displaced families at the Kipkongor IDP camp in Kiptagich Ward, Nakuru County. The specific objectives were: to assess the factors contributing to the Mau Forest Complex evictions, analyze the socioeconomic consequences of forced eviction on the displaced communities, and evaluate the role of government interventions in mitigating the negative effects of forced evictions from the Mau Forest Complex. Using Political Ecology and Environmental Justice theories, the research employed a descriptive design with a mixed-methods approach. The sample size of 150 (127 actual respondents) enabled appropriate data collection and analysis. Data were collected through structured questionnaires given to displaced adults, in-depth interviews with community leaders and officials, focus group discussions, and a review of government and NGO reports. The findings showed that flawed land allocation policies, demographic pressures, and political influences drove initial settlement in the forest and that eviction processes disrupted livelihoods, reduced access to food, water, and education, and left most families unable to restore their previous quality of life. Analyzing resettlement efforts revealed limited community consultation and inconsistent support services. The study identified a pattern of “double displacement,” where policy failures first deprived families of land and then criminalised their forest occupation under conservation law. The research recommended inclusive land-use planning that involves affected communities, rights-based resettlement programs with comprehensive livelihood restoration, and community-led conservation models that incorporate indigenous knowledge systems, thus aligning environmental protection with the rights and well-being of displaced populations.