This research is part of Phase II of the BIOTA East Project; under sub-project E14 which has jointly been formulated by the universities of Bonn, Dortmund and Leipzig. The project examines the socio-economic aspects of biodiversity conservation around Kakamega forest in Western Kenya. The overall BIOTA East research project is aimed ―Towards Sustainable Use of East African Rain Forest Systems‖. This research entitled ―Rural Livelihood, Land Man- agement and Biodiversity– is designed to explore the rural household livelihood and land management in the district and how that affects biodiversity in Kakamega Forest. The study contributes to the overall goal of the BIOTA East Project by exploring and analysing the variables that affect biodiversity conservation and proposing a sustainable strategy for the management of biodiversity in Kakamega Forest. Kakamega Forest in western Kenya is the main study site for BIOTA East projects. This research does not particularly focus on the forest as such. The focus is the socio- economic activities surrounding the forest.