THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

Acknowledgement
Accomplishing a task of this magnitude is no mean feat. This work is a product of
cooperation, guidance and support of many partners, institutions and individuals. I therefore
take the opportunity to thank all those who facilitated the eventual completion of this
assignment. To begin with, my work benefited from the wisdom and advice of many
distinguished scholars. I am particularly indebted to my immediate advisor, Prof. Dr. Ulf
Engel of the Institute of African Studies, University of Leipzig. I drank deep, from his wealth
of knowledge. I was also a beneficiary of his unfettering support and advice. His steady
supervision enabled me accomplish the task in record time. (You are the kind of supervisor
any student should love to have). I am equally glad to have been guided by Prof. Dr. Robert
Kappel of the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), and Dr. Ute Reitdorf of
the SEPT programme, University of Leipzig. In the same regard, I am grateful to the
assistance rendered to me by Mr. Abdilatif Abdalla whose interest and insight in this work
was such a motivation on my part. Most specifically, I thank him for having accepted to proof
read my original manuscript. I am deeply thankful to the spirit of comradeship that I received
from other members of the Institute of African Studies, particularly, Ms Monika Große for
making my working at the institute comfortable and Prof. Dr. A. Jones, Prof. Dr. E. Wolf, Dr.
A. Agwana. All of you in your respective capacities, made my stay at the Institute exciting
and memorable.
I was able to undertake my PhD studies in Germany because of the financial assistance
rendered to me by the Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD). Specifically, I am
grateful to Dr.Thomas Scheidtweiler and Ms Simone Saure of the Africa Department, for their
varied support. Similarly, I am glad to have taken part in the BIOTA programme funded by
the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). My stay in Germany enabled me to
make numerous friends. I am grateful and thankful to C. Bruno, S. Khulmann, K. Grabs, K.
Guhr, M. Nambula, J. Mullei, C, Muma, J. Kuhlmann, H, Kinya J.Tsuwi, and V, Nanga. The
support you rendered to me will forever be treasured.
I must also mention this work was a product of field research done in Kenya. While in Kenya,
I benefited from the cooperation and assistance of many individuals and institutions such as
the Kenya Wildlife Services, National Museums of Kenya, Ministries of Agriculture,
Environment and Natural Resources, the Forest Services, National Environmental
Management Authority and INCRAF among others. I also visited many other organisations
that agreed to take part in field study and I am grateful to all of them. In the same spirit I am
also thankful to the Key informants at Kakamega District and the Western Kenya Provincial
Administration. To my field Research Assistants M. Barasa, N. Alwodi, G. Anyango and M.
Adongo, I am thankful.
Lastly, I am also greateful to my family for having been patient for all this time. I am
eternally indebted to you for your encouragement and support. To you all, I say; Mwebale nyo
mwebalire ddala!
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