Ruiru subcounty has witnessed increased changes from its initial agricultural land use to a more urbanized residential and commercial land use. These land-use and land-cover changes affect directly and indirectly the environment, economy and society at Ruiru subcounty, Kiambu county and Kenya in general. Although their impacts have been recognized long ago, it‟s only a few years back that they became a cause of countrywide concern.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 recognizes the principle of promoting alternative forms of dispute resolution including reconciliation, mediation, arbitration and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms by courts and tribunals when exercising judicial authority.1 While this provision is not specific on the kind of disputes and conflicts to be submitted to alternative forms of dispute resolution, there are other provisions that contemplate such disputes or conflicts as including community land conflicts.