Articulating the socio-economic impacts of development and reforestation-induced displacements in Kenya

Published on March 10, 2021

Nelly Chepngetich ROTICH | genida

Kenya has in the recent past witnessed an increase in the number of people displaced due to development and reforestation. The cases for Embobut forest, Mau forest and Kibera slums evictions are the latest of such displacements with great human displacement impacts. While in most of these instances it was within the mandate of the Government of Kenya to carry out the displacements on public needs grounds, the displacements were carried out in a manner that violated the socio-economic rights of the affected people.
Thus, the Government of Kenya while conducting the forceful evictions acted contrary to the law and regulations. Notably, the forceful displacements resulted in homelessness, greater poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
Noteworthy, national, regional and international law requires Kenya to take into account the human rights of the affected people, and to carry out evictions only in instances where there are no other feasible alternatives to the displacement. This brief draws from existing literature in order to point out instances where the government has breached the socioeconomic rights of persons displaced for development projects and reforestation. It highlights the relevant legal requirements in order to assess their adequacies or lack of it in addressing the processes and impacts of displacements for development and reforestation. This brief concludes with recommendations on the proposed ways for mitigating such resulting socio-economic impacts.

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