Citation:

Kariuki, Josphat Muiruri, Njoroge Beth. "Balancing Bricks and Bread: Real Estate Expansion and Its Implications for Food and Nutrition Security in Kiambu County, Kenya" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 4, No. 8, pp. 9-14, 2025. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V4I8P102

Abstract:

Land is a vital resource for sustainable development, yet rapid urbanization, speculative investments, and weak land governance are reshaping its use, particularly in peri-urban regions like Kiambu County, Kenya’s third most urbanized and agriculturally significant county. This study examines the impact of urban expansion on agricultural land using a mixed-methods approach that combines agricultural production data and satellite imagery from 2010 to 2025. Findings reveal the extensive conversion of prime farmland, particularly in areas such as coffee, tea, banana, and potato-growing regions, into residential and commercial developments, especially along key infrastructure corridors. Agricultural productivity is declining, and over 90% of the food consumed in the county is now purchased, eroding household food production capacity and contributing to growing food insecurity, which affects 18.3% of the population. Despite agriculture contributing 17.4% to household income, shrinking profitability, high land prices, and lack of coordinated planning are accelerating the shift away from farming. The absence of a County Spatial Plan (CSP), fragmented institutional mandates, and inadequate incentives for farmers are further compounding these trends. The study concludes that protecting Kiambu’s agricultural base requires urgent finalization and implementation of the CSP, integrated land-use monitoring, promotion of densified urban development, and fiscal incentives to retain agricultural land and support high-value farming systems.

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Keywords:

Food Security, Land fragmentation, Land governance, Real estate development, Spatial planning and Urbanization.