What was the main reason Maasai people were pushed into dry and limited areas?

Colonial occupation of better grazing lands

The Maasai depended heavily on cattle and needed extensive grazing land, water, and seasonal mobility. Colonial governments and settlers took control of some of the best grazing areas for settler farming, reserves, and other official purposes. Maasai communities were pushed into smaller and often drier areas, where pasture and water were less reliable. This loss of land weakened their ability to move herds and made their livelihood more vulnerable to drought and disease.

Option A is correct because colonial occupation of productive grazing lands was the main historical cause identified in this context. The other options do not explain the change: Maasai interest in the sea, cattle numbers becoming zero, and trade fairs were not the main reason. The important point is that political control over land restricted mobility and access to resources essential for pastoral life.

This is a Class 9 History question. Chapter: Pastoralists in the Modern World. Topic: Pastoralism in Africa.