Kidist Abebe mersha2026-03-162026-03-162025http://41.89.96.81:4000/handle/123456789/3604Communal grazing lands are crucial for the livelihoods and food security of pastoralist communi- ties in Kajiado County, Kenya, who depend mainly on livestock. Over the past decade, changes in land use have allowed the invasive Ipomoea species to spread, shrinking available grazing areas and putting the long-term resilience of these communities at risk. Guided by Random utility theory and theory of Common Pool Resources, this research was needed to contribute empirical evidence to support policy formation on sustainable rangeland management. This study focused on estimat- ing the household willingness to participate in control efforts and identify factors influencing their willingness. The specific objectives of this study were; to characterize households’ willingness to pay or participate in the control of the invasive lpomoea species; to estimate the mean level of willingness to pay or participate, and determine the factors influencing household willingness to pay. Primary data were collected from 267 households through a semi-structured questionnaire between April and May 2025 using a multistage sampling procedure across three wards in Kajiado Central Sub-County: Purko, Dalalekutuk, and Illdamat that were later cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 27 and STATA version 17 respectively. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics for the first objective, while a double-bounded dichotomous choice CVM approach with a seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model was employed to estimate mean WTP/WTPa and identify its determinants. Out of 260 responses, 81.2% (21 1 households) expressed willingness to pay in cash, while 81.92% (213 households) were willing to participate through labour. The SUBP model results showed that the mean willingness to pay was KES 9,541.44 KES per year and 14.13 Labour days. key detenninants of WTP/Pa included positive significance from extension access (18.4%), land tenure security (5.1%), and livestock ownership (1%), while age (-1.4%), Bid amounts and labor requirements (-6%) showed negative significance. The study concludes that pastoral households are largely willing to participate in efforts to control invasive Ipomoea and recommends that policymakers take these key factors into account when designing community- based strategies to manage the spread of invasive plants and strengthen the resilience of pastoral systems.enInvasive ipomoea plantHousehold willingnessThesis