Land degradation has become a major environmental and political concern in sub-Saharan Africa where about 80% of the population derives its livelihoods from use of natural resources. This study, conducted in western Kenya suggests that a complex relationship exists between land degradation and livelihoods that is exacerbated by cultural practices, norms and rules that regulate their domestic subsistence production. Integrating cultural and scientific assessment results suggest that restrictive cultural rituals such as land allocation patterns and sexual rituals are rapidly contributing to degradation of the land of Luo people. This degradation is exacerbated by the harsh climate and easily erodible sedimentary landscape of the Luo people. The Kipsigis people on the other hand are changing cultural practices to respond to changing environmental conditions, slowing the degradation of their landscape. This paper will uniquely contribute to scholarship by projecting the voices of women who are struggling to secure livelihoods under both adverse environmental conditions and restrictive cultural practices.