Spatial Degradation and Livelihood Diversification in the Ever-changing Landscape of Pastoralist Kajiado, Kenya

The study centers on both internal and external pressures on Maasai communities, such as environmental changes and socio-economic shifts, all of which are rapidly changing. It further examines the historical colonial context in Kajiado that has led to spatial degradations - a decline in an objective geographic area's function, usage, or ecological health. Such degradation has taken on different forms based on varying cultural, environmental, and livelihood-centered understandings and motivations. Understanding this is particularly important to investigation of how the cultural identity of the Maasai shapes realities and informs decisions about livelihoods. This idea is especially relevant when, out of necessity, the Maasai adopt coping mechanisms that may or may not challenge traditional values and norms. Ultimately, these research findings demonstrate that Maasai communities in Kajiado have incredibly resilient, diverse, and dynamic strategies that allow for sustaining and diversifying their livelihoods.